Campus Compact Honors FVCC Student with Newman Civic Fellowship

Campus Compact has selected Flathead Valley Community College student Mara Hanks to participate in the 2021-2022 cohort of Newman Civic Fellows.

Campus Compact is a Boston-based coalition of more than 1,000 colleges and universities committed to fulfilling the public purposes of higher education. The Newman Civic Fellowship recognizes and supports civic-minded students who have demonstrated a commitment to finding solutions to challenges facing their communities.

FVCC President Jane Karas nominated Hanks for the fellowship based on her advocacy for marginalized youth. She has worked and volunteered for several local nonprofit organizations that empower youth to live healthier and more independent lives, including the Sparrow’s Nest and Center for Restorative Youth Justice.

In addition to her full-time studies, Hanks serves as a mentor to other FVCC students, a student government senator, a leader within the college’s Native American Club and a Resident Assistant for student housing. She is also an AmeriCorps alum.

Hanks is completing an Associate of Arts degree at FVCC and will transfer to the University of Montana to earn a bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education as part of FVCC’s 2+2 partnership with UM.

As a Newman Civic Fellow, Hanks will participate in a one-year program that emphasizes personal, professional and civic growth. Through the fellowship, Campus Compact provides a variety of learning and networking opportunities, including a national conference of Newman Civic Fellows in partnership with the Edward M. Kennedy Institute for the United States Senate. The fellowship also provides access to exclusive scholarship and post-graduate opportunities.