Rogers State University student Rhyder Jolliff of Muskogee has earned recognition as a 2017 Newman Civic Fellow, a one-year national fellowship that emphasizes personal, professional and civic growth.
A public affairs sophomore and member of the RSU Honors Program, Jolliff is one of 273 students nationwide named as a Newman Civic Fellow by Campus Compact, a Boston-based non-profit organization working to advance the public purposes of higher education.
During his time at RSU, Jolliff helped launch the charter for Epsilon Sigma Alpha, a national co-educational community service fraternity that locally provided more than 6,000 hours of community service during its first six months on campus.
In addition to serving as Epsilon Sigma Alpha’s president, Jolliff serves as an RSU Student Ambassador and Tour Guide, is an RSU Student Government Association Senator, was named as a leader for Hillcamp (new student orientation), and is a member both of the Diversity Committee and the Bass Fishing Team. He also was a driving force behind “Hunter’s Helping Hoodies,” a campus coat drive that collected more than 1,500 coats and other cold weather gear for distribution within RSU’s service area this winter.
Prior to his arrival at RSU, he was actively engaged in public policy initiatives as a high school student. He worked with Muskogee’s community policing team, served on an environmental impact committee, and mentored elementary school students.
Jolliff was nominated for the recognition by RSU President Dr. Larry Rice, who said, “Rhyder’s commitment to social change exhibited thus far, not to mention his potential for success in future endeavors, make him worthy of this recognition.”
As a 2017 Newman Civic Fellow, Jolliff will be a part of the first cohort to benefit from a completely re-designed fellowship. Through the Newman Civic 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 fellows with access to exclusive scholarship and post-graduate opportunities.
“The cultivation of community-committed leaders has never been more crucial,” said Campus Compact president Andrew Seligsohn. “We rebuilt the Newman Civic Fellowship experience because our country needs more people who know how to bring communities together for positive change. We are thrilled to welcome this group of 273 exemplary students as the first cohort to participate in this new model.”
The Newman Civic Fellowship is supported by the KPMG Foundation and Newman’s Own Foundation. For more information about the fellowship, visit www.compact.org.