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Kaeley Ipson of Branchburg, a second-year Civil Engineering major enrolled in Raritan Valley Community College’s Honors College, has been selected as a Newman Civic Fellow by Campus Compact. Ipson joins 262 students from across the country for this national honor recognizing their leadership skills and investment in solving public problems.

Based in Boston, Campus Compact is a non-profit organization working to advance the public purposes of higher education. The Newman Civic Fellowship, named for Campus Compact co-founder Frank Newman, is a one-year experience emphasizing personal, professional, and civic growth. Through the 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 apply for exclusive scholarship and post-graduate opportunities.

“As an NJ STARS student and a member of the Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society who maintains a 4.0 Grade Point Average, Kaeley Ipson is a true student leader both inside and outside of the classroom. Her multiple engineering-related experiences have benefitted not only the College, but also the local community. Through her service learning coursework, she assisted engineers at a local municipal office in mapping out detention basins and educating residents about retro fitting. Kaeley has been involved with several initiatives to help combat food insecurity. Her Honors Research Capstone project focused on developing an innovative hydroponic system designed to be efficient, cost effective, and practical enough to be utilized by busy low-income families for growing food,” said RVCC President Michael J. McDonough.

As President of RVCC’s Enactus team, Ipson worked on an “illuminut” shake-light project manufacturing eco-friendly lights, with profits benefitting a local food pantry. Her Enactus efforts also included volunteering at a food pantry garden; creating a hydroponic competition for homeschooled students; and offering multiple hydroponic demonstrations for a food pantry, environmental center, and K-12 schools. As Vice President of Communications for the Society of Women Engineers, she participated in projects supporting young females pursuing STEM careers.

“We are proud to recognize each of these extraordinary student leaders and thrilled to have the opportunity to engage with them,” said Campus Compact President Andrew Seligsohn. “The stories of this year's Newman Civic Fellows make clear that they are committed to finding solutions to pressing problems in their communities and beyond. That is what Campus Compact is about, and it's what our country and our world desperately need.”

The Newman Civic Fellowship is supported by the KPMG Foundation and Newman’s Own Foundation. For additional information, visit compact.org/newman-civic-fellowship.

Campus Compact is a national coalition of 1000+ colleges and universities committed to the public purposes of higher education. Campus Compact supports institutions in fulfilling their public purposes by deepening their ability to improve community life and educating students for civic and social responsibility. As the largest national higher education association dedicated solely to campus-based civic engagement, we provide professional development to administrators and faculty to enable them to engage effectively, facilitate national partnerships connecting campuses with key issues in their local communities, build pilot programs to test and refine promising models in engaged teaching and scholarship, celebrate and cultivate student civic leadership, and convene higher education institutions and partners beyond higher education to share knowledge and develop collective capacity. Visit www.compact.org.

Ranked by BestColleges.com, WalletHub.com, and Niche.com as the #1 community college in New Jersey, Raritan Valley Community College has been serving as an academic and cultural center for Somerset and Hunterdon County residents for 50 years. The College has been nationally recognized for its service to the community, environmental stewardship, and commitment to diversity. It is home to a Planetarium, Science Education Institute and 3M Observatory; a 1,000-seat Theatre offering professional performances for all ages; and an Honors College for high achieving students.

The College offers more than 90 associate degrees and certificates, as well as career training, small business assistance through the Small Business Development Center, professional development, and adult and youth personal enrichment courses. RVCC is located at 118 Lamington Road in Branchburg, NJ. For further information, visit www.raritanval.edu.

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

March 8, 2019

Media contact: Donna Stolzer, 908-526-1200, ext. 8383

PR #102