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Cristian Ramos, a communications major at the University of North Georgia (ÌìÃÀÉçÇø), 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 ÌìÃÀÉçÇø 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 ÌìÃÀÉçÇø 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 ÌìÃÀÉçÇø, 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.