Stella Koch’s lifelong commitment to service was instilled by her grandmother, who brought her along to volunteer at soup kitchens and coat drives in their hometown of Reading, Pennsylvania. 

“My grandma is a very giving person,” says Koch, SOC/BA ’27. “She’s the reason I am who I am.” 

Driven by this early lesson in service, the public relations and strategic communications major has been named a 2025–26 Newman Civic Fellow, one of the nation’s top honors for student leaders and problem-solvers.

During the yearlong program, civic-minded fellows hone their skills and learn to collaborate across disciplines through virtual events, one-on-one mentorship, and mini-grants to fund social impact projects.

“Stella doesn’t wait for an invitation to make a difference,” says Amanda Harrison, assistant director of honors and scholar programs. “She not only takes advantage of all the opportunities before her but creates opportunities for others.”  

Koch, an honors student, is deeply involved in campus life. She is a resident advisor, an AU Ambassador, a DC Community Impact Scholar, and a member of the Asian American Student Union and AU in Motion. 

In December, she was among 10 Eagles awarded the merit-based Benjamin A. Gilman Scholarship, which provides up to $5,000 for Pell Grant recipients to pursue academic and career-oriented opportunities abroad. Koch is bound for Greece this summer.

“I have the privilege of getting this incredible education,” she says. “So it’s important to me to use that to help people.”