Bonner Leader honored for community service

UNC Charlotte junior Rebecca De Luna has been recognized for outstanding leadership and service by North Carolina Campus Compact, a statewide network of colleges and universities that are committed to community engagement. De Luna is a recipient of the network’s Community Impact Student Award, which honors one student leader at each member school. The award recognizes students with a deep commitment to community involvement and ability to inspire peers.

De Luna is one of 22 students across the state to receive the 2019 award, joining more than 300 college students honored by the organization since the award was first presented in 2006.

As a Bonner Leader at UNC Charlotte, De Luna began serving an internship at Camino Community Center, a health and wellness clinic and community center dedicated to serving Charlotte’s Latino community. De Luna coordinated more than 200 volunteers for the 14th annual Back to School Children’s Fair in 2018. She has earned the trust of leadership within the organizations with her demonstrated commitment to the center’s mission. In 2019, while her supervisor was on leave, De Luna served as the interim communications director for the 15th annual Back to School Children’s Fair. She connected with the press, prepared press releases, wrote blog posts and managed a social media campaign.

Tamara Johnson, Bonner Leaders program and engaged scholarship director at UNC Charlotte, nominated De Luna for the award.

“For the past two years, I have gotten to know Rebecca as a scholar and as a leader; she is sharp, passionate and dedicated to matters of social justice and community engagement. There is no doubt in my mind that Rebecca will continue to build on the academic success and civic leadership she has already achieved as a Bonner Leader,” said Johnson.