Daniel Ward, a junior chemistry major from Fresno, has been named a Newman Civic Fellow by Campus Compact for his commitment to improving the community through service and leading other students into service.

Ward was one of 162 student leaders from across the country selected for making the most out of their college experience in all aspects of service and leadership.

In his letter nominating Ward, Fresno State President John D. Welty wrote, “The theme weaving its way through Daniel’s career at Fresno State is not simply that he engages in service, but that he goes to great lengths to engage his peers in similar acts of service.”

The value of giving back to the community is a value taught to Ward at an early age by his parents.

His efforts and time have been dedicated to fighting childhood obesity through sports and advocacy, volunteering at food pantries and homeless shelters and promoting environmentally friendly practices.

Ward’s service within the university began with the Smittcamp Family Honors College, where he is a President’s Scholar, the top four-year academic honor at Fresno State. He has organized many community service activities for other students such as river clean-ups and support for military veterans.

“I encourage everyone to take a few hours out of their busy schedules to make the world a better place,” said Ward.

“He is a servant leader; a person who is called to help others and be a leader, but does so by serving others,” said Chris Fiorentino, director of Fresno State’s Jan and Bud Richter Center for Community Engagement and Service-Learning.

For the second year Ward is serving as a Richter Center ambassador where he has the opportunity to showcase the value of community service to students. As an ambassador, Ward has led meetings, co-facilitated training, planned events, conducted outreach and presented at conferences and other events.

As a Newman Civic Fellow, Ward will work with his peers across the country to share ideas and tools to better serve and advocate. The Newman Civic Fellows awards were established in memory of Frank Newman for his work in education reform and leadership as a founder of Campus Compact.

Campus Compact is a national coalition of nearly 1,200 college and university presidents seeking to improve communities and education for students through civic service.

(Copy by University Communications student news assistant Nicole Maul.)

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