To be named a Newman Civic Fellow and to have this light shone upon me…means I’m capable of creating change across campus, not just in our community, but beyond. I’m honored to have this platform to continue the work I’ve been doing.
Summa Slater’s drive to make a difference began in elementary school when she joined the Girl Scouts. Since then, she hasn’t looked back.
“Being involved in hands-on service at a young age deepened my understanding of direct service’s importance,” she said.
The senior continued her passion for advocacy at Bridgewater State University, where she worked as an alternative break team leader through the Martin Richard Institute for Social Justice (MRISJ) and mentored local high schoolers.
Her efforts have not gone unnoticed.
Summa received the 2024 BSU’s Unsung Hero Award, presented earlier this year at the annual Impact Award celebration. The award is given to someone who goes above and beyond in the development of leadership and service opportunities.
Upon returning from a service-learning trip to Cuba this past May, Summa received more good news, when she was chosen to be a 2024-25 Campus Compact Newman Civic Fellow.
The news was humbling.
“To be named a Newman Civic Fellow and to have this light shone upon me…means I’m capable of creating change across campus, not just in our community, but beyond” she said. “I’m honored to have this platform to continue the work I’ve been doing.”
The year-long program emphasizes personal, professional and civic growth. The goal is to learn how to collaborate effectively across all disciplines to create large-scale positive changes. Through the fellowship, students within the cohort will have the opportunity to network and develop as civic leaders.
BSU President Frederick W. Clark Jr is thrilled to learn Summa had been selected.
“As a student leader, she actively builds community and facilitates learning for her peers and local youth,” Clark said. “As a changemaker, she aims to mobilize and influence her peers to think critically, share their stories with people in positions of power, and get actively involved in voting."
Summa hopes to develop a skill set that will teach her how to better organize people for causes she believes in, chief among them is getting students to the polls in this November’s presidential election.
“It’s so important to encourage others to vote, I hope to educate my peers on how to vote,” she said.
Beyond that, Summa plans to work and meet with students from various organizations at BSU to ensure all voices are heard.
“I want to create opportunities for my peers across campus so they can be advocates for themselves,” she said.
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