Raritan Valley Community College graduate Lila Seroy of Whitehouse Station has been named a Newman Civic Fellow by Campus Compact, a national coalition of colleges and universities working to advance the public purposes of higher education.
Seroy, a business major who graduated from RVCC in May 2025, is a student at Stanford University in Palo Alto, Calif. She joins student civic leaders from 38 states; Washington, D.C.; and Mexico who will comprise the 2025-2026 cohort of Newman Civic Fellows.
The Newman Civic Fellowship is a yearlong program that recognizes students who stand out for their leadership potential and commitment to creating positive change in communities. The fellowship is named for the late Frank Newman, one of Campus Compact’s founders, who was an advocate for civic engagement in higher education. Each fellow is nominated by their campus president or chancellor, who is invited to select one exemplary community-committed student from their campus each year.
“As higher education faces unprecedented challenges, these students exemplify the power and possibility of civic and community engagement on campus,” said Campus Compact President Bobbie Laur. “From a variety of institutions and with diverse backgrounds and experiences, these fellows represent a bright future for public problem solving.”
Through the fellowship, Campus Compact provides these students with learning and networking opportunities that help to nurture their development as civic leaders. Programming emphasizes personal, professional, and civic growth that can empower them to collaborate across disciplines and create positive change.
The cornerstone of the fellowship is the Annual Convening of Newman Civic Fellows, which offers in-person skill-building and networking over three days. The fellowship also provides fellows with paths to apply for exclusive opportunities, including mini-grants to help fund community projects, scholarships, and post-graduate opportunities.
The Pray Family Center for Service Learning and Civic Engagement at Raritan Valley Community College is providing a stipend to support Seroy’s participation in the fellowship.
“Lila has been a dedicated student leader at Raritan Valley Community College, and she exemplifies an unwavering commitment to advocacy, community empowerment, and education for disadvantaged youth through her work at Visions and Pathways, a local nonprofit that supports at-risk and homeless youth,” said RVCC President Michael J. McDonough.
Through her service at Visions and Pathways during the past two years, Seroy addressed the lack of awareness and resources for youth who have aged out of foster care or are facing homelessness. Her work involved expanding the organization’s outreach through digital marketing and community engagement to increase support and visibility for its programs.
Seroy created and implemented a social media campaign to highlight success stories and engage the community in supporting the cause. She worked with Visions and Pathways staff, who provided mentorship as nonprofit marketing professionals and access to social media analytics tools.
Seroy also was a recipient of the President’s Volunteer Service Award for the 2024-2025 academic year, having completed over 200 hours of service.
