Committed to community, Bonners connect Centre courses to social impact

Centre College students recently joined faculty and staff in continuing efforts to help members of the community facing housing insecurity.

At a recent Bonner Program meeting, Associate Professor of Sociology Kaelyn Wiles and Associate Professor of Computer Science and Data Science Dave Toth shared outcomes from their recent community-based learning courses related to the issue of homelessness.

Wiles’ class, supported by the Bonner Community fund, Toth’s class, supported by Community Engaged Learning Grants from the Bonner Foundation, helped spur the formation of the Boyle County Homelessness Coalition and laid the groundwork for a transitional housing project that is ongoing.

“We wanted to bring the Bonner Program students back around the table and discuss this issue to learn about how Centre faculty are engaging with community issues and see what has come as a result of these courses,” said Nathan Whitlock ’22, Assistant Director of the Office of Civic and Community Engagement and the Bonner Program. “We wanted to inspire students to help them think about how their coursework applies to the real world.”

Following the discussion, over 50 students assembled 40 emergency kits — complete with sleeping bags, portable chargers and other essentials — for local distribution through the Heart of Kentucky United Way. This project was supported by an EngageKY Volunteer Generation Grant.

“As someone who previously participated in one of these courses, we were there to experience it from the beginning and see the great impact it’s had on the community,” said Elida Rodriguez ’25, Volunteer and Service Coordinator for the Office of Civic and Community Engagement. “It’s not only important to hear about but see how you can be actively involved.”

This hands-on activity not only provided more immediate support to those experiencing homelessness but also offered students a tangible way to apply their classroom knowledge to real-world challenges.

“Even if you aren’t from Danville or Kentucky, homelessness is an issue everywhere you go,” said Kayla Demarse, class of 2028. “Centre College gives us the opportunity to really understand where people are coming from and what they’re experiencing.

“Hearing from these speakers was very important because they are on the front lines. They inspire us to step up and one day lead those efforts ourselves.”