Newman University sophomore student Chase Blasi has been selected to receive a national civic involvement award sponsored by Campus Compact. The award honors student leaders committed to creating lasting change in communities throughout the country.
Blasi was nominated for the award by Newman University. He is one of 197 student leaders representing colleges and universities from 36 states and Washington, D.C., to receive the award for 2014.
Campus Compact is a national organization of more than 1,100 college and university presidents who are committed to fulfilling the civic purposes of higher education. Its purpose is to deepen universities and colleges’ ability to improve community life and educate students for civic and social responsibility.
Each year the organization selects students for its Newman Civic Fellows Award, which is named for one of Campus Compact’s founders, Dr. Frank Newman. The award honors inspiring college student leaders who invested time in finding solutions for challenges facing communities throughout the country.
“We are very proud of Chase and of the way that he has represented Newman University in the community,” said Newman Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs Michael Austin, Ph.D. “The Newman Fellowship is a distinct honor recognizing that Chase is one of the most civically engaged college students in the country,”
“It has been a great honor to receive the Civic Fellows Award,” Blasi said. “It always feels great to know you’ve made an impact, whether small or large.”
Blasi is actively involved in the Wichita community in several ways. He has been working with the Special Olympics organization since 2008 and volunteers regularly at the Lord’s Diner serving meals to people and families in need.
Blasi has also been a Big Brother in the Big Brother/Big Sister organization since 2012, and is a member of the Northwest Wichita YMCA Board of Directors, where he oversees the “Strong Kids” program for the area. “Strong Kids” is a program that provides children from low-income families with opportunities for free swimming lessons and activities such as football, gymnastics, and basketball.
In 2011, Chase was elected to the city council of his hometown of Colwich, Kan., at the age of 17. One year later, he was chosen to be the president of the council and has served in this capacity ever since.
At Newman, Blasi is an ASC Community Leader scholarship recipient, an officer in the Student Government Association and a student minister in the Campus Ministry Office. He recently spearheaded an effort to create resolutions in the Kansas Legislature to recognize the 80th Anniversary of the founding of Newman University. On March 13, 2014, the Kansas House of Representatives and the Senate unanimously passed separate resolutions commemorating the history, values, contributions to the community and the 80th Anniversary of Newman University (Read more here).
Campus Compact was founded in 1985 by the presidents of Brown, Georgetown and Stanford Universities and the president of the Education Commission of the States. Campus Compact’s vision is to have colleges and universities as vital agents of a diverse democracy, committed to educating students for responsible citizenship. For more information on Campus Compact visit www.compact.org.
