The mission of the Bonner Program is to transform the lives of students and members, their campuses, their local communities, and the world through service and leadership.
The Bonner Program is a four-year developmental experience of service and learning with student leadership at its center. Bonner Leaders engage in a four-year paid internship that affords students an “opportunity to serve.”
The Bonner Program promotes student development, community impact, and institutional change, and is rooted in seven common commitments: civic engagement, community building, diversity, international perspective, social justice, spiritual exploration, and wellness.
Ursinus College part of the nationally recognized Bonner Foundation network of 65 colleges and universities.
Why should you join bonner?
Connections with a Diverse Cohort
First-generation and/or students with financial need are invited to participate in the program.
Bonner Leaders learn and serve in a community of 30 student leaders.
Community Impact
Bonner Leaders complete a meaningful, intensive paid internship with one of more than 30 community partners in the greater Philadelphia region.
Bonners can serve in schools, nonprofit organizations, and governmental agencies to address community needs. Our Bonners mentor youth in out-of-school time programs, harvest food in community gardens, tutor incarcerated adults in a local prison, lead Ursinus non-partisan voter registration efforts, and more!
Student Development
The Bonner Program is based on a four-year student development model featuring a scaffolded set of expectations and experiences.
Bonner Leaders engage in experiential and deep learning.
Through the mentorship of Bonner Program staff and their peers, they are supported through regular training and enrichment activities, curricular connections, and professional skill building workshops.
Network Opportunities
Bonner Leaders benefit from opportunities to connect with student leaders across the Bonner Network at yearly conferences and Sophomore Exchange.
Bonners also benefit from financial assistance when applying for Bonner-affiliated graduate school opportunities and priority for internships, fellowships, or jobs with Bonner national partners.
Do you want to apply to the Bonner Leader program?
As of Fall 2025, incoming first-years and rising sophomores with demonstrated financial need will be invited to apply to the Ursinus Bonner Leader Program.
Contact Kelly Zayago, Associate Director of Service Learning, at kzayago@ursinus.edu for more information on the Bonner Leader Program application process.
