A Wartburg College senior has won national recognition for her contributions to community and civic engagement on campus.

Campus Compact recently named Jenna Manders of Dubuque one of six Newman Civic Fellows from Iowa colleges and universities. For the past threeyears, Manders has worked as an executive team member for Wartburg’s Dance Marathon to raise awareness and funds for Children’s Miracle Network hospitals. She also served as a service trip student executive.

“Upon the departure of the director of the Service Trips program, Jenna, as student director for Service Trips, took the reins of the program until a replacement was hired six months later,” Wartburg College president Darrel Colson wrote in his nomination. “During that time, she was able to coordinate six service trips over Thanksgiving break and continue work on an additional 14 trips that would depart the following semester.”

Though Manders came to Wartburg a science major, her volunteer work focused her passions and led her to pursue work that would benefit others through a nonprofit. That realization led Manders to switch majors to business administration and sociology.

Throughout the chaos of class and organizations, her friends were there for support.

“They never doubted me and always had my back, even if they thought I was crazy,” Manders said.

She also served as the Community Foundation of Northeast Iowa Teen Trust student director from May 2012 through May 2014. Each year, the board of high school students allocates $10,000 to nonprofit agencies in Black Hawk County.

Upon graduation, Manders will work for the Community Foundation of Greater Dubuque as their philanthropic partnerships assistant.

Students are nominated for the Campus Compact honor by institution presidents, and 201 students from across the country are being recognized this year. The national coalition brings together more than 1,100 college and university presidents committed to educating students for civic and social responsibility.