Finding Confidence and Community Through Oberlin’s Bonner Scholars Program

Erica Vu ’26 credits the Bonner Scholars Program within the Center for Engaged Liberal Arts (CELA) with helping her find her confidence, her community, and her sense of purpose at Oberlin.

As a Bonner Scholar, Vu has taken on a wide range of volunteer projects and leadership roles while at Oberlin. Since her first semester, she has committed much of her time to the Northern Ohio Youth Orchestra (NOYO). There, she learned the behind-the-scenes logistics of orchestral performances and eventually took on a new role as a production assistant. “While it was a lot of work, I saw that I have the potential to be a leader and that I am a valued asset to my work environment,” she says.

Vu also spent a summer working as a camp counselor at the Teen Action Support Center in Northwest Arkansas. “I worked with a team of social work graduate students to provide a free summer program for teens ages 13-17 within the probation system, allowing them to gain new, enriching experiences,” she says. Oberlin’s Career Exploration and Development (CED) office helped her fine-tune her resume, draft a cover letter, and prepare for her interview as she pursued this role.

Seeking an opportunity beyond the Bonner Program, Vu applied for funding through CED’s Internship+ Program to volunteer with Oberlin’s Legion Garden. With that support, she spent a summer living on campus and volunteering full time at the garden.

Vu is also deeply involved in Oberlin’s undergraduate research community. A mathematics major, she conducts research on campus and serves on the BRANCHES team, helping to plan inclusive events that connect STEM students with research and career opportunities. She also serves on the Bonner leadership team. “My college adventure would not have been as fulfilling without the community that I was introduced to as a Bonner.”

Vu continues to volunteer at NOYO as the production assistant manager and checks in often with her friends at Legion Garden. After graduating, she plans to continue working in the nonprofit sector. “Uplifting, engaging, encouraging, and working with my community to empathetically strive for a better world isn’t what many people think of when they hear about math majors, but I want to challenge myself to change that narrative.”

Vu is a nominee for the CELA Award, recognizing outstanding engagement and achievement in connecting academic pursuits with experiential learning.