Trent Siever, a political affairs sophomore, was the recipient of the 2020-2021 Campus Compact Newman Civic Fellowship.
A good leader has the heart of a servant, and a Rogers State University student has already demonstrated his commitment to serving others.
Trent Siever was the recipient of the 2020-2021 Campus Compact Newman Civic Fellowship.
The Newman Civic Fellowship is a yearlong program that recognizes and supports community-committed students who have demonstrated an investment in finding solutions for challenges facing communities throughout the country. The fellowship is named in honor of Frank Newman, one of Campus Compact’s founders, and is supported by the KPMG Foundation.
“I am proud to receive this recognition because it reflects my commitment to making our community and campus a better place. Having a role in projects that are positively impacting people is a privilege,” Siever said. “It is always important to give back. I am honored to be recognized as a servant to the people of Rogers State University and to our community.
The 2020 fellowship class includes 290 students from several colleges across the United States and Mexico. This class is the largest cohort to date.
Siever, a political affairs sophomore, was nominated by RSU President Larry Rice. Only one student can be nominated from each institution.
“Trent has been a leader at our freshmen Hillcamp helping incoming freshmen adapt to their new adventures at the college level. He is an outstanding leader for RSU. We are proud of his integrity and his commitment to others,” Rice said.
During the Fellowship, Siever will learn how to be a problem solver for the community he serves.
“I will learn several skills in relationship-building and tactical skills to facilitate action. I hope to build more on my abilities for communication, collaboration, networking, and awareness skills to be more effective in future projects and teams. I will build tactical skills to facilitate more action including asset mapping, attracting resources, and community organizing,” Siever said.
Qualifications for the fellowship are extensive. The nominated student must demonstrate the motivation and potential for effective long-term civic engagement, act in addressing issues of inequality and political polarization, and collaborate with surrounding communities to create long term social change.
To stand out for the fellowship, Siever encourages his classmates to look for opportunities to serve.
“Fully commit to anything you do. Whether it be a class project or a service project impacting the lives of hundreds of people, having the integrity to stick to it and to do your best regardless of the outcome is important.” Siever said. “Be an opportunist and be eager to help in any way you can, as a leader or a follower. Overall, it is important for a person to desire to be a servant and respond to the needs of others.”