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Shepherdstown’s Samantha Yates named Newman Civic Fellow

By Staff | Apr 15, 2016

Samantha Yates, a junior at McDaniel College from Shepherdstown, has been named a 2016 Newman Civic Fellow, one of 218 student leaders nationwide recognized by Campus Compact.

An English major with an economics minor, Yates was nominated for the honor by McDaniel President Roger N. Casey for her passion for community engagement, social justice and volunteerism.

“Samantha makes service an integral component of her college experience and she continues to lead by example,” said President Casey.

“Her leadership style encourages collaboration and motivates others to make a positive difference in the community.”

Yates, in partnership with two other McDaniel students, received a $1,000 Griswold-Zepp award from the college to start a composting initiative on campus.

The students not only developed a composting proposal, but built a composter that is now being used by the college and have organized collection days through the end of the semester in Englar Dining Hall.

During her sophomore year, she was selected to participate in the Baltimore Collegetown LeaderShape program, where she connected with students at other Baltimore area colleges and worked with a group to raise awareness of human trafficking.

In addition, as a sophomore, she earned a Duke of Edinburgh bronze award, which is dedicated to achievement in community service, physical fitness, special skills and adventurous journey.

An active member on campus, she works for both the college’s Center for Experience and Opportunity (CEO) and the Office of Student Engagement supporting student organizations.

She is also treasurer and president-elect of Green Terror Productions, McDaniel’s student programming board.

In addition, she is a 2016 Phi Beta Kappa Writing intern contributing news stories about issues facing college students for the Phi Beta Kappa Society’s publication for news and alumni relations, The Key Reporter.

Yates said, “Community service is my way of giving back to those who encourage others and myself. I am particularly passionate about environmental and human rights issues and am looking towards a career in policy.”

Newman Civic Fellows are among the next generation of civic leaders. According to Campus Compact, a coalition of nearly 1,100 college and university presidents committed to fulfilling the civic purposes of higher education, these students make the most of their college experiences through service, research and advocacy to better understand themselves, the root causes of social issues and effective mechanisms for creating lasting change.

Shepherdstown’s Samantha Yates named Newman Civic Fellow