News 2015: UMass Dartmouth student, New Bedford, MA native, receives 2015 Campus Compact Newman Civic Fellows Award

Junior Gabrielle Monteiro one of 201 in U.S. community-engaged students recognized for demonstrating an investment in their community

UMass Dartmouth junior Gabrielle Monteiro, of New Bedford, MA, Class of 2016 Political Science major, has received the 2015 Campus Compact Newman Civic Fellows Award. The award recognizes a student's public involvement and motivation to create lasting change, inspiring not only other students, but their entire campus and surrounding communities. Gabrielle joins a group of 201 student leaders from colleges nationwide who have been recognized. Fellow junior Jacob Miller '16, of Fairhaven, MA, received the Newman Civic Fellows Award for 2014. 

"Gabrielle epitomizes the ideals of active citizenship," UMass Dartmouth Chancellor Divina Grossman said. "She is a civic leader with vision, insight and a keen sense for seeing the big picture. Her passions and energy are focused around grassroots organizing, sustainability, and civic engagement. As a political science major, she understands the role that public policy plays in addressing social issues. Gabrielle has already accomplished quite a bit during her time here on campus and we look forward to her continued inspiration of others to be agents of change in our community." 

Gabrielle has applied her humanitarian perspective by dedicating much of her time to volunteer-based organizations such as the Coalition for Social Justice - a group focused on educating lower income citizens on current social and political issues. She serves as an AmeriCorps member through her role as a Coordinator for SouthCoast Serves - a UMass Dartmouth collaborative dedicated to fostering volunteerism to meet the demands of the SouthCoast region. In addition, Gabrielle is a Resident Assistant and the President of a food justice student group called the Hunger Initiative. Recently, the Hunger Initiative began an on-campus edible ecosystem in the Cedar Dell West Community Garden and has helped establish a local food pantry which is located at the Dartmouth Bible Church. 

"My road to civic engagement began many years ago, but it was when I entered college that I found my true path and inner calling -- a path that has allowed me to utilize my strengths: grassroots organizing and active citizenship. As an active citizen, I have worked on political campaigns to address sustainable public policies, served as a lead intern with an environmental non-profit on energy efficiency, and tackled food justice issues on the UMass Dartmouth campus," Gabrielle said. "The intrinsic rewards I received through my service inspired me to become an AmeriCorps member at the Leduc Center for Civic Engagement at UMass Dartmouth. My work there increased service opportunities for local youth, developed my civic leadership skills, and provided a platform for my studies as a Political Science major at UMass Dartmouth." 

From across the country, college and university presidents have nominated promising student leaders to be Newman Civic Fellows. The Newman Civic Fellows Award is sponsored by the KPMG Foundation.  Through service, research, and advocacy, these Fellows are making the most of their college experiences to better understand themselves, the root causes of social issues, and effective mechanisms for creating lasting change. 

As these students tackle community challenges, they provide fresh energy and perspective, inspire and mobilize others, and develop their own skills and potential. This year's record amount of Fellows will leverage an even greater capacity for engagement and change through online networking. In keeping with their generation's emphasis on networks over hierarchies, Newman Civic Fellows will share ideas and materials to further their work through an exclusive online community.