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Cristian Ramos, a communications major at the University of North Georgia (Õý°ÄÃÅÁùºÏ²Ê¿ª½±½á¹û), has been selected as a 2017 Newman Civic Fellow, a national award that recognizes individuals who demonstrate leadership and problem-solving abilities within their communities.

This is the fifth year in a row that a Õý°ÄÃÅÁùºÏ²Ê¿ª½±½á¹û student has been recognized as a Newman Civic Fellow. Ramos is one of only 273 student leaders in the nation selected as part of this year's cohort of fellows.

"Cristian demonstrates a deep commitment to assisting the local Latino community through volunteerism, political engagement and campus leadership," said Õý°ÄÃÅÁùºÏ²Ê¿ª½±½á¹û President Bonita C. Jacobs, who nominated Ramos for the award. “Cristian's wide-ranging advocacy has left a lasting mark on his local community, and we expect this influence to continue to grow in the coming years."

Ramos currently serves as a volunteer for HoPe — a grassroots non-profit organization that offers leadership courses and scholarship assistance to local Hispanic high school students He is also actively involved with local political campaigns as well as on-campus initiatives that encourage students to vote and get involved in politics.

At Õý°ÄÃÅÁùºÏ²Ê¿ª½±½á¹û, Ramos facilitates classroom discussions on issues of diversity. Most recently, he completed the Georgia Association of Latino Elected Officials Institute for Leadership certificate.

"Like a lot of people from my generation, I have the desire to reach my highest potential through continuous and engaged learning. But I expect this to occur while engaging in higher theological, philosophical and political questions and ideas that moderate the way that I serve my community," Ramos said.

The Newman Civic Fellow is sponsored by Campus Compact, a national coalition of nearly 1,100 colleges and universities committed to the public purposes of higher education and the only national higher education association dedicated solely to campus-based civic engagement.

The fellowship honors the late Frank Newman, one of Campus Compact's founders and a tireless advocate for civic engagement in higher education.

"I agree with the known adage that service is the rent that we pay for living in this world, although I must add what we all know: that rent is higher depending on where one lives. For that reason, I feel an enormous debt for living in one of the greatest countries in history, the United States of America, and I am eager to give back where and when I can," Ramos said.