18
The College of New Jersey Magazine
a banner year
for bonners
Now in its 20th year, the TCNJ
Bonner Program has a lot to celebrate.
When TCNJ's Bonner Community Scholars
Program launched 20 years ago, it started with just 12
Bonner Scholars — students who commit to 300 hours of
community service annually in exchange for needs-based
scholarships. Now, with close to 100 participants each
year, the TCNJ program is one of the largest and most
successful in a nationwide network of Bonner college
programs.
TCNJ's success makes it a national model, but it isn't
easy to replicate. It derives from a combination of its
robust student engagement; strong ties to community
partners locally, nationally, and internationally; and
unwavering financial support from both the TCNJ
Foundation and the Corella & Bertram F. Bonner
Foundation.
By the time Bonners graduate, they have service infused
in their DNA, and many go on to careers that change lives.
Here, we share the stories of just a few of the people and
partnerships that have made up the fabric of the Bonner
Program the past two decades.
WORDS
PaMela Podger
and Kara PoThier
PHOTOS
bill Cardoni
and MiKe Morgan
ILLUSTRATIONS
barry falls
18
The College of New Jersey Magazine