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Raritan Valley Community College graduate Lila Seroy of Whitehouse Station has been named a Newman Civic Fellow by Campus Compact, a national coalition of colleges and universities working to advance the public purposes of higher education.

Seroy, a Business major who graduated from RVCC in May 2025, is currently a student at Stanford University. She joins a group of student civic leaders from 38 states; Washington, D.C.; and Mexico who will comprise the 2025-2026 cohort of Newman Civic Fellows.

The Newman Civic Fellowship is a yearlong program that recognizes students who stand out for their leadership potential and commitment to creating positive change in communities. The fellowship is named for the late Frank Newman, one of Campus Compact’s founders, who was a tireless advocate for civic engagement in higher education. In the spirit of Dr. Newman’s leadership, each fellow is nominated by their campus president or chancellor, who is invited to select one exemplary community-committed student from their campus each year.

"It is an honor to welcome this group of accomplished and dedicated students to the Newman Civic Fellowship," said Campus Compact President Bobbie Laur. "As higher education faces unprecedented challenges, these students exemplify the power and possibility of civic and community engagement on campus. As they emerge as the leaders of tomorrow, we are proud that this fellowship will be part of their story. From a variety of institutions and with diverse backgrounds and experiences, these fellows represent a bright future for public problem solving."

Through the fellowship, Campus Compact provides these students with learning and networking opportunities that help to nurture their development as civic leaders. Programming emphasizes personal, professional, and civic growth that can empower them to collaborate effectively across disciplines and create large-scale positive change.

The cornerstone of the fellowship is the Annual Convening of Newman Civic Fellows, which offers intensive in-person skill-building and networking over three days. The fellowship also provides fellows with pathways to apply for exclusive opportunities, including mini-grants to help fund community projects, scholarships, and post-graduate opportunities.

The Pray Family Center for Service Learning and Civic Engagement at Raritan Valley Community College is providing a generous stipend to support Seroy’s participation in the fellowship.

“We are extremely honored that Lila Seroy has been recognized nationally and named a Newman Civic Fellow. Lila has been a dedicated student leader at Raritan Valley Community College, and she exemplifies an unwavering commitment to advocacy, community empowerment, and education for disadvantaged youth through her work at Visions and Pathways, a local nonprofit that supports at-risk and homeless youth,” said RVCC President Dr. Michael J. McDonough.

Through her service at Visions and Pathways during the past two years, Seroy addressed the lack of awareness and resources for youth who have aged out of foster care or are facing homelessness. Her work involved expanding the organization's outreach through digital marketing and community engagement to increase support and visibility for its vital programs. Seroy created and implemented a strategic social media campaign to highlight success stories and engage the community in supporting the cause. She worked closely with Visions and Pathways staff, who provided mentorship as nonprofit marketing professionals and access to social media analytics tools.

Her strong work ethic, passion for social justice, and experience in digital marketing have helped her develop innovative approaches to raise awareness of an important community issue. Seroy’s dedication to creating collaborative solutions, along with the insight she’s gained from being part of a network of like-minded students, further strengthened her ability to address public problems and contribute to lasting change.

Seroy also was a recipient of the President’s Volunteer Service Award for the 2024-2025 academic year, having completed over 200 hours of service.

To learn more about the Newman Civic Fellowship, visit www.compact.org/newman-civic-fellowship. For additional information about all of the student leaders selected for this year’s cohort, visit www.compact.org/current-programs/newman-civic-fellowship/newman-civic-fellows.

Campus Compact is a national coalition of colleges and universities that supports, engages, and challenges higher education to realize its public purpose. Campus Compact empowers colleges and universities to advance their academic and civic missions by partnering with communities to address complex social issues and further equity, justice, and prosperity for all. Founded in 1985, Campus Compact is the nation's largest and oldest national association dedicated to advancing the civic and community engagement mission of higher education. Its members make up a force of thousands of presidents, faculty, researchers, students, and civic and community engagement experts. Campus Compact envisions colleges and universities as vital agents and architects of a diverse democracy, committed to educating students for responsible citizenship in ways that both deepen their education and improve the quality of community life. Learn more at www.compact.org.

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

September 11, 2025

Media contacts: (RVCC) Donna Stolzer, donna.stolzer@raritanval.edu; (Campus Compact) Gavin McGuire, Communications Manager, gmcguire@compact.org

PR #16