The first year pre-orientation is a chance for admitted Bonner Scholars meet each other and start the community building process.
The purpose of pre-orientation is to acquaint you with the Bonner Program at Macalester, learn more about the Twin Cities, as well as introduce you to key offices and staff at Mac.
The annual Bonner pre-orientation retreat is always held toward the end of August.
One of the cornerstone activities for during the first year of the Bonner Program is our J-term Course and alternative trip which takes place in New Orleans, Louisiana.
This trip focuses on three themes: education, community, and cultural survival.
The sophomore exchange is a short service-based experience with Bonners from other campuses. We alternate between hosting visiting Bonners and going to other colleges that also have a Bonner program.
This is an opportunity for Bonners to experience service with Bonners from another community, to build networks and continue strengthening ties between Bonner Programs.
In the image is Macalester Bonners and Bonners from the College of Saint Benedict and St. John’s University.
Bonners are encouraged to expand their service work and personal development by engaging in summer service. These are paid summer internship opportunities working with a non-profit.
Some Bonner Scholars choose to spend their summers continuing the community engagement work they started during the school year. Others travel to new communities to promote issues about which they are passionate.
Since the beginning of the Bonner Program, student voice has been instrumental in creating, implementing, and strengthening the program on the local and national levels.
One way we uplift student voice is through the role of Bonner Congress Representative. This role is designed for students to represent their programs and national network and to build upon their leadership skills to strengthen their own Bonner Programs and community initiatives.
This is an opportunity to represent the Macalester Bonner Program on a national level! Bonner Congress is usually held at a different college each year. This is a great way to network, develop leadership skills, and learn about other Bonner Programs throughout the nation.
The Bonner Summer Leadership Institute (SLI) is the largest annual event for the Bonner Network for student, administrators, faculty, and community partners.
Every Summer, SLI provides participants with professional and personal development along with networking opportunities to strengthen the quality of work for campus-based service efforts. Programming focuses on themes of deepening community partnerships, supporting and developing students, and building vibrant, sustained infrastructure for campus-community engagement.
The Bonner Plus initiative provides space for Bonner leaders to connect with other student leaders on campus who share the first-generation college experience (whether or not they are considered first-gen by Macalester). These leaders gather to find common interests, build solidarity, and find ways to engage the local community similar to the ways Bonner Community Scholars engage with community partners in New Orleans. Many previous Bonner cohorts, and increasingly other CEC student leaders, have been inspired by the cultural rituals and practices in New Orleans. These cultural practices can help enhance our approach to student leadership, community engagement, cultural exchange, and interpersonal relationships in ways that center compassionate action and loving critical reflection.
The senior capstone is a culminating project that reflects and synthesizes on learning throughout the Bonner program. There are two opportunities to share senior presentations of learning. One taking place at the final All Bonner meeting for the academic year in late April, the other through presenting to faculty and community partners during a luncheon that takes place over senior week leading up to commencement.
