By Lian Bunny
News Editor
Simone Bernstein, a St. Bonaventure University alumna, ’14, will be inducted into the Missouri Public Affairs Hall of Fame on April 17, along with George Washington Carver and Eric Greitens.
Up to six citizens are honored each year, each with a connection to the state of Missouri, who consistently act to benefit others while defining the essence of public affairs, according to the Missouri State Public Affairs website. This includes one legacy award, which is honoring Carver, an African American scientist, educator and humanitarian, this year.
Joining Bernstein and Carver at the Hall of Fame induction is Greitens. He served as a U.S. Navy Sea, Air and Land (SEAL) officer and was deployed to Southeast Asia, Afghanistan, the Horn of Africa and Iraq. After returning from Iraq, Greitens used his combat pay to found The Mission Continues, a non-profit organization that challenges veterans to serve in communities across America.
Bernstein of St. Louis individualized her major at St. Bonaventure to suit her interests, creating a social entrepreneurship and altruism major.
“For students with interests in different fields, the interdisciplinary program is an incredible way to create your own major,” Bernstein said.
Bernstein received a grant as a Fulbright Student Scholar at the University of Toronto. The Fulbright Research Program is a merit-based grant for students to research abroad.
As a Fulbright scholar, Bernstein is learning new research techniques to analyze and collect electroencephalogram (EEG) data.
The EEG detects electrical activity in the brain using electrodes, small metal discs, attached to the scalp. Brain cells communicate using electrical impulses.
Bernstein said students shouldn’t be afraid to take unorthodox routes to reach their goals.
“My motivation to attend medical school is a mixture of my desire for academic challenges, community service and passion,” Bernstein said. “I, as well, could have chosen the safe and reliable path and made it easier to fulfill my requirements for medical school.”
According to Bernstein, her time at Bonaventure allowed her to get involved with community service organizations. She said she noticed young people struggled to find volunteer opportunities that didn’t have age restrictions. In 2009, she and her brother created VolunTEEN Nation, a volunteer-run, non-profit organization.
“VolunTEEN Nation provides a vehicle for nonprofit organizations to promote their cause,” Bernstein said. “We are helping promote organizations that have programs for teen volunteers, their mission and the volunteer opportunities they offer. The site categorizes volunteer opportunities for students by state, zip code, age group and area of interest.”
Teens interested in doing service can find more than 8,300 volunteer opportunities on the VolunTEEN Nation website. According to Bernstein, more than 93,500 young people contributed more than a million hours of service through the website. Bernstein said the volunteering possibilities include growing gardens to donate to food banks and giving technology lessons to adults, as well as many other ways to help the community.
Bernstein said college students, as well as teenagers, should get involved.
“It is important to consider giving time to support organizations in need of volunteers,” Bernstein said. “We are a generation ready to solve problems in the community. If anyone wants to get involved in organizing national service projects and writing service related articles, we would love for more Bonaventure students to get involved in VolunTEEN Nation.”
Bernstein was also named a 2010 L’Oreal Paris Woman of Worth, one of Glamour’s 2013 Top 10 College Women, a 2014 Traditional Home Magazine Classic Woman and is on the 2012 Forbes 30 under 30 Social Entrepreneur list.
“It is such an honor to receive [the hall of fame] award,” said Bernstein. “I am so proud to be a St. Bonaventure alum and recognized next to two other incredible people who’ve made a difference.”
