Bonner Scholar Program
Since 1992, DePauw University has welcomed 20-student cohorts of Bonner scholars each year with the goal of promoting access to education through opportunity to serve. Through a wide variety of intensive service and civic engagement opportunities during their time at DePauw, Bonner scholars work with communities local to Putnam County as well as those closer to their homes.
Prospective students who have demonstrated commitment to service and financial need are selected to become part of the 4-year service-based Bonner Scholar Program. Lateral applications to the Bonner Scholar Program are open on the basis of spot availability in the first-year and sophomore cohorts.
WHY BONNER AT DEPAUW UNIVERSITY?
- Bonner Scholars are encouraged to discover, cultivate, and unite their passions for service and civic engagement with their academic pursuits and career aspirations.
- The program model is cohort-based (20 students in each class), intensive, and developmental, integrating experiential, curricular and co-curricular service and learning.
- The Bonner Scholarship focuses on 7 Common Commitments: Civic Engagement, Wellness, Community Building, International Perspective, Diversity, Social Justice, and Spiritual Exploration. Each commitment represents the collective beliefs about the types of values and personal commitments that students in particular, but also others connected in the program encounter and explore.
- Throughout your academic journey, you'll benefit from additional one-on-one support from Bonner Staff in the Hartman Center for Civic Engagement throughout their academic careers. If you are interested in learning more you can check out the DePauw Bonner Program on Instagram and You Tube.
CAREER OUTCOMES
Becoming a Bonner Scholar involves dedicating at eight to ten hours each week to community service through an internship with a local nonprofit. Scholars will also participate in two hours of personal, professional, and leadership training alongside fellow scholars each week. Every year, around 20 nonprofit organizations, public schools, and government agencies host Bonner Scholars, providing essential support and mentorship throughout your experience.Additionally, students will enhance their professional development skills through the NACE Career Competencies, focusing on areas such as career and self-development, effective communication, critical thinking, equity and inclusion, leadership, professional development, and technology proficiency.Students will develop these crucial skills while working alongside our local and global partners.
Current projects and partners include
Providing social services and supporting case management in Court Appointed Special Advocates for Children (CASA), Beyond Homeless Incorporated, and Family Support Services.
Tutoring and mentoring youth within the Putnam County School Cooperation and YMCA.
Supporting mental and physical well-being at the Putnam County Hospital and Mental Health of America.
Advocate and educate on civil rights and social justice on behalf of marginalized communities.
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Hear From Our Bonner Scholars |
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“The Bonner Program drives members out of our comfort zones, building skills that are integral to our future careers. I have personally improved my social, professional, and leadership skills and feel very capable of starting new projects that help benefit our local community. I also feel that the Bonner community itself is incredibly tight- knit; members genuinely care about one another. Without Bonner, I would have never been able to meet such amazing individuals, within the program itself as well as in the Greencastle community.” - MICHAELA TROUTMAN, '26 |
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“Bonner has helped me with some of the financial aspects of college while also giving me the opportunity to get more involved in the community that I will be a part of for a long time. Thanks to Bonner, I’ve learned that importance of service, as well as being in a group of people who are willing to go out into the community and become the change we wish to see. I would recommend the Bonner Program to anyone and everyone.” – RUBEN MUNOZ ’26 |
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“As a Bonner Scholar, I've had the opportunity to work with the Greencastle community and make a tangible impact in people's lives. From helping at a local soup kitchen to tutoring children after school, I've learned that service is not just about giving back but also about building meaningful relationships with those around us. Through the Bonner Program, I've also learned valuable life skills, such as leadership, teamwork, and problem-solving. These skills have not only made me a better person but also prepared me for life beyond college. And perhaps most importantly, the Bonner Program has given me the chance to pursue my dreams without having to worry about the financial burden on my family. I can now focus on my studies, my service, and my personal growth, knowing that I have the support of the Bonner community behind me." - KHUE TRAN, '25 |
Additional Information
Selection Process
- Student will submit DePauw Application.
- Admissions counselor will nominate and request student to submit Bonner application.
- Hartman will invite student to meet with Bonner Staff.
- Student will be offered Bonner Scholarship.
Financial Scholarship
Bonner Scholars’ financial aid package meets the total documented need for the total cost of education. Bonners’ financial aid packages include Bonner specific awards grants, loans, and other scholarships.
Program Requirements
- Complete 140 hours of service (8-10 hours per week) per semester.
- Participate in planned training and enrichment events for Bonner scholars, including but not limited to: class meetings, all-Bonner meetings, and journal writing.
- Engage in Bonner Cornerstone activities throughout the four years, typically one per year. These cornerstone activities are intentional, meaningful, and impactful experiences that form an essential part of a student's Bonner journey. They are among the most memorable and defining aspects of the Bonner experience.
- Complete 280 hours of service during the summer, for 2 summers.
Bonner History
Mr. & Mrs. Bonner established the Bonner Foundation with the hope and, indeed the expectation, that the impact of their support would be far-reaching in the areas of hunger and education. Drawing on their own personal experiences as well as the knowledge of friends and visionaries in the philanthropic and educational communities, the Bonners created the Crisis Ministry and Bonner Scholar Programs.
More on the mission and history of the Corella & Bertman F. Bonner Foundation can be found here.
Bonner Network
The Bonner Foundation’s Network is made up of 75+ participating colleges and universities, local and national non-profit organizations, and a thriving Alumni network consisting of 20,000 Bonners from across the nation. Collectively, we work towards transforming students, communities, and campuses through service.
