Melbourne SGA President Earns Newman Civic Fellow Honor

An Eastern Florida State College student has received national recognition for his exemplary leadership work on campus and in the community.

Ancel Robinson, the Student Government Association president on the Melbourne campus, has been named a Newman Civic Fellow for 2015 by the Campus Compact, a coalition of 1,110 college and university presidents.

The award is given to students for what the Compact calls their ability to inspire and mobilize others and tackle the root causes of social issues in their communities.

Some 201 students from across the U.S. were named as fellows this year.

“These students represent the next generation of public problem solvers and civic leaders,“ said Campus Compact chairman of the board Richard Guarasci, president of Wagner College in New York. “They serve as national examples of the role that higher education can — and does — play in building a better world.”

Robinson was nominated by Eastern Florida President Dr. Jim Richey, who called him “an inspiration to all who know him.”

Robinson, 42, was laid off from his job in 2010 and returned to college at Eastern Florida, where he is scheduled to graduate in December 2015 with a Bachelor of Applied Science Degree in Organizational Management.

A first generation college student, he says he wants to not only improve his life but serve as a role model to his children and grandchildren.

“Ancel is extremely bright and articulate, and possesses exceptional leadership qualities that he has shown again and again,” said Richey.

Those leadership skills include his role as Student Government Association president for the Melbourne campus, where he represents more than 5,000 students and oversees 17 clubs.

He has also been the cornerstone of Phi Theta Kappa and the Environmental Club, where he has expanded student learning and research opportunities and created community partnerships.

Furthermore, Robinson has more than 1,000 hours of community service and will graduate as a prestigious Citizen Scholar, reflecting his commitment to the broader world in which he lives.

“Ancel is truly a leader of the future, and I can think of no one more deserving of this award than him,” said Richey. “I’m extremely proud of him and so is everyone else at the college.”

Robinson said he was humbled by the honor, adding “I just try to give back as much as I can to make a difference.”