About
Wittenberg's commitment to community engagement runs deep. We have several programs and fellowships for current students to develop their understanding of community, consider their civic responsibilities, and contribute to the Springfield and Wittenberg community during their time.
In addition, every year Wittenberg recognizes students, faculty and staff who have made significant contributions to the Greater Springfield community. These four prestigious awards are a testament to Wittenberg's motto, "having light, we pass it on to others."
Civic Engagement Scholar Program
The Hagen Center coordinates the Community Engagement Scholar Program and offers student scholars a four-year developmental plan that allows them to become actively involved in service to the community (20 hours/semester), to participate in educational and enrichment activities, to serve as advocates for community engagement and to reflect on the connection between their experience and the liberal arts education. The Program creates a supportive environment for students who have a common focus on making a difference in their community.
For information on how to apply for the scholarship visit the Admission Scholarship page.
- Current Scholars
Class of 2021
Jack Hollinshead, Ellie Long, Kathleen McGuff, Carly Stang
Class of 2022
Tommy Belser, Tatum Bruno, Noah Scott
Class of 2023
Gabrielle Doty, Sam Dudley, Julianna Fisher, Kirstin Hawkins-White
Class of 2024
Parker Hayes, Max Keef, Sydney Khosla, Olivia Norbut, Lanai Stevenson
Newman Civic Fellowship
Wittenberg is a member of Campus Compact, a national coalition of 1,000+ colleges and universities committed to the public purposes of higher education. Campus Compact builds democracy through civic education and community development.
The Newman Civic Fellowship honors the leadership legacy of Campus Compact founder Frank Newman by recognizing community-committed students who:
- Engage in collaborative action with others from campus or from surrounding communities in order to create long-term social change
- Take action in addressing issues of inequality and political polarization
- Demonstrate the motivation and potential for effective long-term civic engagement
As a member of Campus Compact, Wittenberg encourages students to be active citizens that participate in continuous community engagement as a way to fulfill their vocation. The Newman Civic Fellowship honors and encourages students to develop their skills to make social change happen.
For detailed information about the Newman Civic Fellowship, please see the Campus Compact Website.
2020-21 Fellow: Emmanuel Thombs
- Past Newman Fellows
2019 - 2020 - Gabrielle Szydlowski
Campus Election Engagement Project Fellowship
Campus Election Engagement Project (CEEP) is a national nonpartisan project that helps administrators, faculty, staff and student leaders at America’s colleges and universities engage students in federal, state and local elections, working to promote a more equitable and inclusive democracy, and to overcome the ever-changing barriers to voting. The CEEP fellow develops and implements a strategy for encouraging and enabling student engagement in elections. Reaching out to their peers, they help register their fellow students to vote, navigate them through voting rules, distribute our nonpartisan candidate guides and other educational materials, and organize and carry out Get Out The Vote events. CEEP’s Fellows have a powerful impact on student voter participation while developing valuable leadership skills, with many calling their experience “life-changing.”
Click here to view an overview of the CEEP Fellowship program.
2020-21 Fellow: Charlotte Hurst
- Past CEEP Fellows
This is the first year for this fellowship
Charles J. Ping Student Community Service Award
The Charles J. Ping Student Community Service Award honors a student's outstanding leadership and commitment to community service or service-learning on campus and within the community. It recognizes a student's ability to work in partnership with members of the community to identify and meet the needs of the community, as well as the creation of a sustainable organization or process to meet this community need for an extended period of time, either to its resolution or into the foreseeable future. The award is sponsored by Ohio Campus Compact, a statewide organization statewide non-profit coalition of college and university presidents and their campuses working to promote and develop the civic purposes of higher education. Eligible students may be from any class year and may be recognized for voluntary service or for service in a university-required program.
2020-21 Fellow: Mackenzie Hill
- Past Ping Student Award Recipients
2020 - Mackenzie Hill
2019 -
2018 -
2017 -
2016 -
2015 -
2014 -
2013 -
2012 -
2011 -
2010 -
Community Service Champion Award
The Community Service Champion Award recognizes a student's commitment to service, the quality of his/her service, and his/her positive impact on the City of Springfield and Clark County. It is not merely the student's hours of service, but the impact on the quality of life in the Springfield community that is most important. Eligible students may be from any class year and may be recognized for voluntary service or for service in a university-required program.
2020-21 Fellow: Korynne Berner
- Past Champion Award Recipients
2019 - Samantha Watson
2018 - Elizabeth McNeill and Jessica Walters
2017 - Jillian Edwards
2016 - Benjamin Brown
2015 - Alyssa Hughes
2014 - Emily Bermes
2013 - Evan Cameron
2012 - Lacey Davidson
2011 - Melanie Muszelik
2010 - Heather DeSantis
2009 - Lilliane Pate
2008 - Lindsey Short
2007 - Emily Convery
2006 - Melissa Gallion
2005 - Trevor Sutherland
2004 - Andrew Buck
2003 - Katie Fritinger
2002 - Amy Helmick
Copeland Community Service and Social Justice Award
This award recognizes a student who has demonstrated engaged citizenship in the Springfield/Clark County community. It is not merely the student’s hours of service, but the ability to think critically about difficult societal issues and the willingness to work to confront these issues with compassion and commitment that is most important. Rising seniors are eligible for the award and nominees will be asked to submit additional information to a selection committee on their involvement in service.
2020-21 Fellow: Sarah Hartman
- Past Copeland Award Recipients
This is the inaugural year for this award
Excellence in Community Service Award
The excellence in Community Service Award recognizes a faculty/staff member for their dedication to community service in the Springfield/Clark County community. The recipient is selected based on his/her substantial involvement in community projects, services and activities that contribute to the quality of life in the local community. The nominee must be a Wittenberg University employee, who has served for at least three consecutive years, and who has not previously received the award.
2020-21 Fellow - Sarah Fortner, Environmental Science
- Past Excellence in Community Service Award Recipients
2019 - Brian Yontz, Education
2018 - Brooke Wagner, Sociology
2017 - Doug Schantz, Business Office
2016 - Stefan Broidy, Education
2015 - John Ritter, Geology
2014 - Stephanie Little, Psychology
2013 - Nancy McHugh, Philosophy
2012 - Scott Dooley, Art
2011 - Leanne Wierenga, Languages
2010 - Rick Incorvati, English
2009 - Olga Medvedkov, Geography
2008 - Dawn White, Student Development
2007 - Don Reed, Philosophy
2006 - James Huffman, History
2005 - Warren Copeland, Religion
2004 - J. Robert Baker, Political Science
2003 - P. Gus Geil, Business Office
2002 - Darrell Kitchen, Business Office