The Cornell Tradition Fellowship

12/23/2025

Greetings, Cornell Commitment Alumni!

The Cornell Commitment 2025 Winter Newsletter has just been sent to your email. Be sure to check your junk or spam folders so you don’t miss all the impressive things our students and alumni accomplished this past fall!

Didn’t receive the email? Reach out to Jacinta Stark at jj87@cornell.edu to be added to our contact list.

Happy reading, and enjoy the winter season! ❄️

https://mailchi.mp/b2b7e2a03aa9/the-cornell-commitment-alumni-newsletter-winter-18153403

12/09/2025

They did it!
Thanks to the combined efforts of Cornell Tradition Fellows, Meinig Scholars, and Rawlings Scholars, our students didn’t just meet the goal of 1,000 cards, they crushed it, creating 1,780 heartfelt cards for local seniors!
This project supports and their “My Dear Friend” campaign, a volunteer initiative where students brighten the lives of seniors in care through personal, handwritten messages.
"As a Cornell Tradition alum, I’m inspired to see this next generation embrace service and surpass their goal with 1,780 cards! This dedication to Our My Dear Friend campaign shows the power of bold kindness in action. Each message they send shares connection and hope to seniors who need it most—and reminds us how we can all participate in bringing smiles to seniors."
-- Rachel Doyle, Founder & CEO, GlamourGals Foundation, Inc.
The Cornell Commitment is incredibly proud of our students for supporting an organization built on the power of human connection, helping seniors feel noticed, valued, and appreciated.
To learn more about the organization, visit glamourgals.org

12/09/2025

This weekend, our fellows came together for one of our favorite Cornell Tradition traditions: Seasons of Service
Every year, on the first Saturday of December, the SAC hosts this special event where they spend an afternoon crafting cards, blankets, and other gifts for the local community.
This year, 60 volunteers made cozy blankets for Babies First and the SPCA, and designed heartfelt cards for nursing homes across Ithaca.

12/05/2025

SOOOOO close to 1,000 cards!

Our students are doodling, writing, and spreading all the holiday cheer for GlamourGals Foundation, Inc.’ My Dear Friend campaign. Every card helps a senior feel just a little less lonely this season. Let’s finish strong!

12/02/2025

11/21/2025

11/21/2025

Our Kindness Tree just got a little fuller!

Some of our Feeney-Menschel Days of Action participants gathered last night for our second team-building session of the semester. Before meeting, students watched and reflected on Drew Dudley’s TED Talk The Power of Disconnection (https://youtu.be/S_g4Ho86IiI?si=ixOzUg2-jS0B9Fx4), which introduces the “First Day Mindset,” the idea that we show up to new experiences with energy and care, but that our excitement can fade over time.

The talk’s deeper message about self-worth, identity, and connection helped set the tone for our upcoming week of service in January, reminding us how essential self-awareness is when entering any space where service is required.

For this session’s “question of the day,” students added new leaves to our Kindness Tree by responding to:
“What’s living rent-free in your head that you would like to let go of?”

To put connection into practice, students ended the night by creating small gift bags to share with someone they want to appreciate.

11/20/2025

Such a great turnout last night! Students from all three Commitment programs warmed up indoors, got crafty, and helped GlamourGals get closer to their goal of sending 100,000 cards to isolated seniors (https://glamourgals.org/my-dear-friend-holiday).

11/18/2025

There is still time to submit nominations. Submissions are due by December 1.

Nominations for the Debra S. Newman ’02 Cornell Tradition Community Recognition Award are now being accepted. This award recognizes and honors a community member who has demonstrated a strong commitment to service and/or leadership in a community service setting.
The award will be presented as part of the Cornell Tradition New Fellow Welcome Back Dinner on Thursday, February 5, 2026, at the Biotechnology Building.
The recipient will be:
-Honored at the dinner,
-Commemorated on a permanent plaque located in Kennedy Hall outside of the Engaged Cornell Hub, and
-Presented with $1,000 to be designated as a charitable contribution to the nonprofit organization of the recipient’s choice.
Nomination Form: https://cornell.ca1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_6Gy2fN4MtMa5oPk
Deadline: Monday, December 1, 2025, by 4:30 p.m.
Please address all questions and concerns to Jacinta Stark, Assistant Director of The Cornell Commitment Office, via email at jj87@cornell.edu or by calling 607-255-8595.

11/18/2025

Join the celebration this Friday, November 21st, 4:00p-6:00p in WSH!