National Community Service Honors for Ithaca College Student

By David Maley, April 22, 2016

National Community Service Honors for Ithaca College Student

ITHACA, NY—A national organization committed to advancing community service and public engagement in higher education has recognized Ithaca College senior Brendan Davis as a 2016 Newman Civic Fellow.

Davis is among a select group of 218 college students honored by Campus Compact for taking action in pursuit of long-term social change as well as engaging and inspiring others in their communities. The fellows will leverage their individual knowledge and talents to further their goals by sharing ideas and materials with one another, networking through an exclusive online community.

This is the fifth straight year that an Ithaca College student has been named a Newman Civic Fellow.

“We are fortunate to have the opportunity to celebrate such an extraordinary group of students,” said Campus Compact president Andrew Seligsohn. “We are seeing a resurgence in student interest in acting to create lasting social change, and this year’s Newman Civic Fellows exemplify that commitment.”

A leader in Ithaca College’s chapter of Habitat for Humanity, Davis has used skills honed as an integrated marketing communications major to build more than just houses.

“I thrive in situations that are hands on and in the field, so the best way for me to learn how to build a house is to build one,” says Davis. “Just like that, the best way for me to learn how to market and promote positive social outcomes is to do it. I have loved my time spent on spreading awareness and addressing the systemic problems concerning affordable housing and homelessness. In part because of my experience with Habitat, I look forward to pursuing a career in cause-based marketing after I graduate.”

In nominating Davis for the honor, Ithaca College president Tom Rochon called him a natural leader with high energy, intense curiosity about the world and a strong vision. As the adviser to Habitat for Humanity, Rochon has witnessed firsthand Davis’s hard work.

“Brendan exhibits great initiative when arranging build projects with students and community partners, and is always creative in his efforts to spread the word about the club around the Ithaca College campus,” wrote Rochon. “He is a genuine servant leader, in that he is always the first to contribute his time and energy on a build site.”

Davis has also provided his marketing expertise in working with such nonprofit organizations as Bicycles Against Poverty, Restoring Our Watershed and Island Impact Ministries. He is the founder of Rás Life, a brand that works with artists, musicians, teachers, athletes and business owners to create media promoting a passionate, active lifestyle. A member of the Ithaca College track and field team, he was recently inducted into the National College Athlete Honor Society.

Campus Compact is a nonprofit coalition of college and university presidents dedicated to building community engagement into campus and academic life. The award honors the late Frank Newman, one of Campus Compact’s founders, and is supported by the KPMG Foundation and Newman’s Own Foundation.

For more information, visit www.compact.org.