Evan McKenna

University of Notre Dame

Evan McKenna, a second-year student at the University of Notre Dame, has demonstrated a deep commitment for education and community-building on and off-campus. Evan’s compassion, empathy, and dedication stands out to those around him. He has worked with local elementary school students, tutoring students on reading. After observing unhealthy behaviors among those he tutored, Evan has also become active in a conflict resolution program that provides students with positive alternatives to violence. Evan is also a leader among his peers, working to facilitate community volunteer opportunities among other Notre Dame students. He has helped reduce transportation barriers, fostered community building, and built opportunities for others. Evan is a proven advocate for social change. He has addressed county commissioners in Tennessee to advocate for the civil rights of the LGBTQ community. He has been active in providing resources and support for children affected by immigration raids. Evan is not only a student committed to social change, he is also a student unafraid to lead and use his voice to enact social change and advocate for those who need it most. He has demonstrated the ability to align values, passion, and dedication in service to the local community and the common good.

Rev. John Jenkins
President
University of Notre Dame

Personal Statement

I am a sophomore undergraduate student at the University of Notre Dame studying Psychology and English. Growing up in a small town in Appalachia where education was constantly ignored and devalued, I quickly realized the power of a great education — and the dangers of a poor one. A captain of my Speech and Debate team in high school, I exercised my advocacy often, writing and performing speeches for community leaders on a variety of human rights issues including LGBTQ+ equality, the mental health epidemic in U.S. prisons, immigration justice, and education reform. I strive to walk the walk as well, often organizing groups of activists when such rights are jeopardized. I believe that education is our greatest asset, the fundamental solution to deep-rooted systems of inequity and oppression. My leadership at Notre Dame reflects these beliefs — I am active at the Notre Dame Center for Civic Innovation, serving brilliant but underprivileged students in South Bend; I visit elementary schools and teach children bullying and violence prevention strategies; I also hope to launch Speech, Debate, and public speaking programs across local schools, so that students may discover the life-changing intersection of advocacy and education.

Evan McKenna
Psychology and English: Class of 2022
written 2020

2020 Fellows Alphabetical by Institution

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Alexander Kaye, U. of Central Florida Miyako Iwata, UC Berkeley M. Chiamaka Okonkwo, UNC Charlotte Noelia Michelle Flores González, Universidad de Monterrey Ashlyn Woods, University of Baltimore Greta Hacker, University of Central Arkansas Christian Coleman, University of Central Oklahoma Hailey Ettinger, University of Colorado Boulder Michael Hernández, University of Connecticut Claire Sullivan, University of Dayton Maggie Nelson, University of Delaware Tarun Ramesh, University of Georgia Gregoria Uroza, University of Houston-Downtown Wasan Kumar, University of Illinois at Chicago Kaitlyn Meyr, University of Kentucky Ana Benitez, University of La Verne Amanda Gardner, University of Maine at Augusta Stephanie Turcios, University of Mary Washington Nihira Mugamba, University of Maryland, Baltimore County(UMBC) Maggie Sullivan, University of Massachusetts Dartmouth Danelia Ramirez Aguilar, University of Massachusetts Lowell Jendayi London, University of Miami Meredith Days, University of Michigan Lucy Grimshaw, University of Missouri – St. Louis Kortney Sims, University of Montana Dinesh Karki, University of Nebraska Omaha Alexandra Vergara, University of New Hampshire Keyri Ambrocio, University of New Haven Aryelle Jacobsen, University of North Carolina Asheville Katherine Torres, University of North Georgia Yarik Molina, University of North Texas at Dallas Cole Passick, University of Northern Iowa Evan McKenna, University of Notre Dame Justin Norris, University of Oklahoma Nisha Sridhar, University of Oregon Oluwatomisin Oyedele, University of Pennsylvania Stephanie Rose, University of Pittsburgh TJ Tann, University of Richmond Ana Trejo Aguilar, University of San Diego Evelyn Pedraza Fernandez, University of San Francisco Imani Sherrills, University of South Carolina Beaufort Patrick Mack, University of South Carolina Upstate Reylan Cook, University of South Carolina-Columbia - Columbia, SC Tyus Edmond, University of St Thomas Amber Heidenreich, University of Wisconsin - Superior Shehrose Charania, University of Wisconsin-Madison Tavyonia Davis, University of Wisconsin-Parkside Trenton Ebel, UW Green Bay
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