Junior biology major Sarah Whitmire has been named a Campus Compact Newman Civic Fellow, one of 201 students honored with this national award for investing in their communities through service, research and advocacy.
A Levine Scholar, Whitmire is minoring in music and public health sciences. She is pursuing her medical education, engaging in health research and volunteering in related organizations, all to prepare her serve vulnerable populations in ways that improve the quality of their lives.
“While the reasons for volunteering might be different from person to person, I’ve always felt a strong drive to use my skills to improve the lives of those with the fewest resources,” she said. “Volunteering has solidified my reasons for choosing this path, which will provide a means for me to make a lasting impact in any community.” Whitmire’s ultimate plan is to become a physician.
She has conducted research on campus and in the community, including at Carolinas Healthcare System. She began volunteering three years ago with the non-profit clinic affiliated with the Salvation Army Homeless Shelter, which serves women and children in the Charlotte-Mecklenburg area. The clinic promotes self-sufficiency by providing free healthcare.
“In addition to working directly with the residents, I’ve participated and initiated multiple health-related projects at the shelter to promote health, to provide education, and to encourage preventative measures,” she said. “One of my most significant accomplishments was creating a research project with the goal of providing a self-sustainable way for this high-risk population to control their blood pressure. Throughout the 500 plus hours of working there, I’ve developed leadership and civic engagement skills that will be applicable for the rest of my life, in addition to developing many unique friendships.”
Whitmore has always been driven to understand the intersection between the patient, the protocol, and the system, UNC Charlotte Chancellor Philip L. Dubois said. “The two-year relationship she has developed with homeless women in her community-based research project in Charlotte has equipped her to make a difference in the lives of the people for whom she cares, and to witness firsthand the challenges people face in accessing health education and services,” Dubois said. “Ms. Whitmire’s understanding of the patient at a human level positions her to take this integrated perspective into her graduate student and professional life, as she continues to explore the multiple facets of health interventions and service delivery.”
Named in honor of Frank Newman, one of the founders of Campus Compact, the Newman Civic Fellow award is sponsored by the KPMG Foundation. Newman Civic Fellows share as a collaborative group their ideas and other information to further their work.
Campus Compact is a national coalition of more than 1,100 college and university presidents who are committed to fulfilling the public purpose of higher education. As the only national higher education association dedicated solely to campus-based civic engagement, Campus Compact promotes public and community service that develops students’ citizenship skills, helps campuses forge effective community partnerships, and provides resources and training for faculty seeking to integrate civic and community-based learning into the curriculum.
