Scholars are required to complete two summers of community service. A total of 280 hours each summer must be completed and logged in as Servant Leaders between May 15th and August 1st.
The service may be provided directly or indirectly through a student-initiated project or a project sponsored by a non-profit or government agency. Bonner Scholars may petition as an exception for one of their two summers of service to a) engage in science lab research with faculty mentorship with demonstrated community impact can be a summer placement for one of the two required summers of service, or b) serve with a for-profit company if their summer role can be shown to have a larger social impact, particularly in social corporate responsibility.
No less than half of a Bonner Scholar’s service hours must be spent in “direct, hands-on” community service activities such as tutoring, visiting the elderly, environmental clean-up, building a home, and renovating a playground. No more than half of a Bonner Scholar’s service hours may be spent in “indirect” community service activities such as administrative tasks related to the Bonner Scholars Program or action research on behalf of a community group.
Living Stipends of $2,000 are provided prior to the start of summer service, while the service stipend of $2,500 is paid in August. For the purposes of the scholar programs, "community service" is defined as service provided to individuals or communities to meet social, educational, or environmental needs.
The following activities will not count towards meeting a Bonner Scholar's community service requirement either during the school year or in the summer:
- service on behalf of a private, for-profit company or organization;
- service on behalf of a political campaign
- ROTC or any other military service;
- any activities with the primary focus of supporting worship, evangelical and proselytizing activities within a church or para-church organizations.
Application is due by April 15th annually.