Tuesday, February 3, 2026
Students: Apply for next Newman Scholar opportunity by March 27, 2026
junior Julisa Morones Luna is active 鈥� and an activist. She is the university鈥檚 2025-26
, an honor awarded to students who are committed to improving their communities and
finding solutions to societal challenges. To be chosen for this prestigious fellowship,
students must be nominated by their university president or chancellor.
鈥淚鈥檓 interested in change and being a voice for people,鈥� said Morones Luna. She is already doing just that by serving as and majoring in . The last SGA president, , was also a Newman Scholar. She inspired Morones Luna to seek the position.
Who will be our next Newman Civic Fellow? The time is now to apply. Students should fill out the and email it to courtney.rogers@untdallas.edu no later than 5 p.m. on March 27, 2026, after which candidates will be considered and one student will be chosen. University President Warren von Eschenbach will then sign a letter of support to be shared with Campus Contact.
Morones Luna's fellowship will continue through the summer until the next group of
Newman Scholars is announced in September. She has plenty to keep her busy until then.
Although Morones Luna won't graduate for another 15 months, she is already studying
for the LSAT exam in April, charting her path beyond her undergraduate degree to law
school. Eventually, Morones Luna plans to run for elected office, where she can influence
change through legislation and drive reform that uplifts marginalized voices.
In the meantime, her focus is on the current academic year and fulfilling her many
and wide-ranging responsibilities. is a yearlong program offering learning and networking opportunities that help nurture
future community leaders. The goal is to empower students like Morones Luna to collaborate
effectively and create large-scale positive change.
鈥淭hese students exemplify the power and possibility of civic and community engagement on campus. As they emerge as the leaders of tomorrow, we are proud that this fellowship will be part of their story,鈥� said Campus Compact President Bobbie Laur. 鈥淔rom a variety of institutions and with diverse backgrounds and experiences, these Fellows represent a bright future for public problem solving."
The cornerstone of the fellowship is the Annual Convening of Newman Civic Fellows,
which offers skill-building and networking over three days. Morones Luna participated
in the gathering in October in Chicago. 鈥淚t was my first time flying alone,鈥� she said
proudly.
The Newman program also provides fellows with pathways to apply for exclusive opportunities, including mini-grants to help fund scholarships and post-graduate opportunities. Morones Luna recently received a $1,500 stipend to help fund her community service activities. They include voter registration drives, which encourage citizens to engage in the election process. 鈥淚鈥檓 deputized to register people,鈥� she said.
Morones Luna, 20, is a first-generation college student from Austin. She is one of five sisters, which familiarized her with the power of young women 鈥� so much so that she joined an organization called and founded its chapter on the 夜色视频 Dallas campus. 鈥淚t鈥檚 for women in politics,鈥� Morones Luna said.
Service is a theme that runs through Morones Luna鈥檚 family. Her two older sisters
work at schools and, while her mother and father always encouraged her education.
鈥淢y parents have always been supportive,鈥� she said. 鈥淚t was scary at first because
I got homesick.鈥� Now, Morones Luna visits her family in Austin regularly and has fully
adjusted to campus life. She said her parents 鈥渨ant her to reach her goals.鈥�
If her junior year is any indication, Morones Luna has already accomplished many goals. And with the additional knowledge and skills gained through the Newman Civic Fellowship, she is sure to achieve much more in the months and years to come.
Reminder: March 27, 2026, is the deadline for students for the 2026-27 夜色视频 Dallas Newman Scholar opportunity.
From 鈥� Students