SLIPPERY ROCK TWP. — Five Slippery Rock University freshmen are getting the chance of a lifetime — the chance to be the first students involved with SRU's new Bonner Leader Program.

The program's mission is to link students to volunteer opportunities by partnering with local service organizations.

These opportunities allow students to develop their social engagement and leadership skills.

Bradley Wilson, associate provost of academic learning and integrated learning, is one of the directors of the program.

“It's a really experientially based program,” Wilson said.

The program was developed in 1990 through the Corella & Bertram Bonner Foundation. The Bonners sought to provide students “access to higher education and an opportunity to serve,” according to the foundation's website.

Wilson described the program as a way to involve students with a “passion for social justice and community service.”

This year's five freshmen are Melissa Lopez of Pittsburgh; Danielle Manalang of Dubai; Danielle Blide of Newtown, N.J.; Jaeden Chapman of Turtle Creek; and Jayla Brown of McKeesport.

Lopez, an exercise science major, hopes the program will help her engage with people who come from different backgrounds.

“I'm going to be able to see things not just from my point of view,” Lopez said.

Several of the program's topics jumped out at Lopez when she first heard about it at orientation in May.

“Food resources and immigration and the environment,” Lopez said. “I'm just really interested in helping the community.”

The program also has Bonner interns, older students who are mentors to the freshmen.

Eddie Quiñones is a senior homeland security major who became an intern after learning about the program in March.

“I thought it was a really good opportunity to help incoming students,” Quiñones said.

Quiñones said he understands how important it is to have a mentor in the first years of college. He said he could have used guidance when he started at SRU.

“That's kind of what I'm hoping to do,” Quiñones said.

Sophomore psychology major Montanna McClue did have mentors as a freshman.

“They were invaluable to me,” McClue said. “I want to be that for someone else.”

Freshmen got to choose their mentors at a picnic before school started.

“We wanted to make sure that they got a say,” Quiñones said.

Interns also receive a $3,000 scholarship and are paid for working on the program 10 hours a week. Their duties include administrative and logistical work, as well as a weekly one-on-one meeting with their mentees.

Quiñones hopes his guidance will help the freshmen avoid mistakes he made as a young student.

McClue has a different goal.

“Just the feeling of family,” McClue said.

She hopes the students will maintain their love of community by keeping in touch with each other.

McClue is seeing camaraderie develop between students. Quiñones also feels the program is successful.

“Since I've been in school, this is one of the better decisions I've made,” Quiñones said.

The program, according to Wilson, is part of a larger SRU agenda that's been in effect for three years. Wilson said it is spearheaded by SRU President William Behre.

“There's been a very intense effort to expand and increase Slippery Rock University's involvement in social engagement,” Wilson said. “This is part of a broader strategy.”

Behre brought the program to SRU after having been involved with it at the College of New Jersey.

“He has a strong interest in community service and community engagement,” Wilson said of Behre.

SRU is pairing students with several agencies for the 2019-20 program: the Macoskey Center for Sustainability Education and Research on SRU's campus, Slippery Rock Community Library, Butler County Humane Society and the Quality Life Services foundation Don't Stop Dreamin.'

The program is open to students in all majors, though SRU hopes to promote “underrepresented students.”

“To follow up on their passions,” Wilson said.

Being a minority is not a requirement for applying for the program.

Students who participate in the program receive a $3,000 scholarship and $2,000 in-student worker reimbursements. SRU covers the cost.

“We're providing the resources,” Wilson said. “We see that as a good investment.”

SRU pays for each student's scholarship out of its general scholarship fund.“It would be wonderful if we could find individuals ... who would want to support it,” Wilson said.Though only five students are in the program this year, SRU will select 10 freshmen for 2020-21.At full capacity — five years — the program should have 40 students.Ultimately, students will work toward a capstone project in their senior years.“To help (the) students become volunteer leaders,” Wilson said.SRU wants to partner with more agencies as it adds more students. Wilson said a partner agency must be a “good fit” for the program by having needs students can fill and programs students can enhance. The programs have to provide opportunities for students to make a difference.Making a difference spells success, for Lopez.“Even if it was just a little bit,” Lopez said. “I'd be happy with just that.”Information about the program is available on the SRU website www.sru.edu.