EFSC Student Earns Newman Civic Fellow Honor

Eastern Florida State College student Regina Stanford has received national recognition for her leadership in the community and on campus.

A student on the Titusville Campus, Stanford has been named a Newman Civic Fellow for 2020 by the Campus Compact, a coalition of 1,110 college and university presidents.

The award is given annually to students for what the Compact calls their ability to inspire and mobilize others and tackle the causes of social problems in their communities.

Some 290 students from across the U.S. and Europe were named as fellows this year.

Stanford, who is studying for her Associate in Arts Degree, is majoring in psychology and will graduate this December.

She was nominated by EFSC President Dr. Jim Richey, who praised her community and campus work saying she “truly embodies the spirit and values of Eastern Florida State College.”

Stanford is the founder of Hummingbird Pantry, Inc., which tackles hunger and homelessness in north Brevard County.

She founded the organization in 2012 after volunteer efforts brought her face-to-face with the needs of elementary school children whose families struggled to provide food.

The first year, the pantry provided holiday food baskets to 45 families. In 2019, it distributed 150,000 pounds of food to more than 12,500 families a month.

“The need in the community is great, particularly with the working poor,” said Stanford, who spends about 85 hours a month on the food pantry.

“A lot of hard-working people just don’t make enough money these days, especially with the high cost of housing. It takes a lot of their resources to keep a roof over their heads, and often there isn’t enough left over for food.”

Hummingbird also stocks the Titan 2 Titan food pantry at EFSC that helps nourish students struggling with work and school.

Stanford has recorded nearly 1,200 volunteer hours through the college’s Service Learning and Civic Engagement program and maintains a 3.6 GPA.

She has also been named a 2020 Coca-Cola Academic Team Silver Scholar and will receive a $1,250 scholarship.

Selection is based on academic achievement, leadership, and engagement in college and community service.

The award is given in conjunction with the Phi Theta Kappa honor society that recognizes the academic achievement of students at associate degree-granting colleges.

Through the Newman fellowship, Stanford will gain a variety of learning and networking opportunities. The fellowship also provides fellows with pathways to apply for exclusive scholarship and post-graduate opportunities.

“The stories of this year's Newman Civic Fellows make clear that they are committed to finding solutions to pressing problems in their communities and beyond. That is what Campus Compact is about, and it's what our country and our world desperately need,” said Campus Compact President Andrew Seligohn.