Guilford College
EN-9: Community Partnerships

More than simply a form of financial aid, Guilford's Bonner Scholars Program provides deserving students the opportunity to continue their community service interests throughout their college years. In addition, Bonner Scholars enjoy a unique opportunity to form friendships with other students who share their commitment to service, both on the college campus and in the wider Bonner Foundation network. In this way, students are encouraged to extend their learning beyond the classroom through participation in and service to the wider community. The Bonner Scholars Program is an internal program that focuses on community outreach. There are many organizations with which the Bonner Scholars spend their time. Students learn from their experiences working with refugees, in community gardens, etc. and their volunteer hours help the organizations/people with whom they collaborate. Duckherd Farms provides fresh, free-range, local eggs for our Community Supported Agriculture Program shares. The Guilford College Community Garden is located on the Guilford College Farm and rents garden plots to local community members to grow fresh food 12 months out of the year.

The college partners with FLS, a solar power company that has installed 194 thermal hot water solar panels across campus reducing the college's energy requirements for hot water by up to 40%. Guilford is leasing the panels under a thirty year lease-to-own agreement. These panels meet our triple bottom line goals by saving the college money, reducing the amount of natural gas we need to use for hot water, and providing sufficiently hot water for our residential population. They also serve as a teaching tool during our sustainability tours and presentations.

The Mobile Market is a student-run program that transports and gives away donated food from the Guilford Farm and Guilford College Community Garden to the refugee community of Glen Haven. Members of this community occasionally come to the community garden and help with maintenance. The external entity of the mobile market is the Glenhaven refugee community. The proceeds from our on-campus farmers’ market goes directly toward purchasing discounted farm produce that is then donated at the mobile market. The Greensboro/High Point area was recently named #1 in food insecurity, so this market is directly addressing the need for more fresh produce to be available, particularly in low income neighborhoods.

Students participating in the Brunnenburg Study Abroad program reside in the castle “croft,” which accommodates 14, and study the poetry of Ezra Pound, medieval culture, the history of agriculture, the slow food movement and German. Each Tuesday they participate in a workday on the castle’s farm and surrounding vineyards.