About us

History

The Bonner Scholars Program was created and implemented by the Bonner Foundation with Berea College, its first partnering campus in 1990. Two years later, the Bonner Scholars Program was established at Oberlin College. It became an endowed program at Oberlin in April 2007, through collaborations among the Bonner Foundation, Oberlin College, and the Bonner Center for Community-Engaged Learning, Teaching, and Research. Learn more>

Common Commitments 

The Bonner model rests on a four-year intensive commitment by participating students, who also receive a service-based scholarship. Programs have always sought to achieve the same goals: supporting student development, especially through service and community engagement. They have focused on maximizing community impact, and building infrastructure for campus civic engagement. These goals have been encapsulated within the six Common Commitments:

1. Community Building:

The program seeks to establish and sustain a vibrant community of place, personal relationships, shared interests and appreciation of differences. To encompass work on this commitment, phrases like Bonner Love or team building are often used. In addition, participants seek to build relationships through a sense of community in intentional ways, for instance through icebreakers and other activities, social events, and bonding experiences.

2. Civic Engagement:

This commitment begins with the decision to participate intentionally as a citizen in the democratic process, and includes direct service, voting, and affecting the ways in which public policy is shaped.

3. Diversity

Through an intentional focus on diversity, the Foundation explores, respects, and embraces the many dimensions of differences in identity and experiences within our private and public lives. Building and implementing service and leadership activities that are inclusive and provide opportunity to individuals from a variety of backgrounds, perspectives, lifestyles, religious beliefs, ethnicities, and other dimensions is a key part of the program.

4. International Perspective:

Exploring and developing an international and intercultural understanding enables program participants and stakeholders to interact successfully in a global society. Since the founding of the Bonner Scholars Program in 1990, the program has included an openness to students’ service in international settings, as well as the inclusion of international students as Bonner Scholars. Additionally, Bonners are increasingly participating in study abroad opportunities during the academic year as well as pursuing full-time internships in international organizations and settings.

5. Social Justice:

The Foundation advocates for fairness, impartiality, and equality while address systemic social and environmental issues.

6. Spiritual Exploration:

The Bonner Foundation is committed to exploring personal beliefs while respecting the practices of others. This commitment seeks to foster a spirit of cooperation and understanding that can help us better serve our communities.

7. Wellness

In order for students to commit fully to the mission of the Bonner Foundation they need to be mindful of their own well-being and need for self-care.  Wellness is important to the Bonner Network because our students must learn how to balance their lives, prioritize their academic, civic and personal responsibilities, and model productive behaviors in the settings in which they serve and learn.

The Bonner Center

The Bonner Scholars Program is housed in the Bonner Center for Community-Engaged Learning, Teaching, and Research. The Bonner Center is Oberlin’s hub for connecting the classroom to communities engaged in social change and public service. Learn more>