Cedar Rapids native Lexi Gause named Newman Civic Fellow for her commitment to creating positive change

CEDAR FALLS — Lexi Gause, a graduate from Prairie High School, is one of 154 student civic leaders in the United States to be named a Newman Civic Fellow for her commitment to creating positive change in her local community and around the world.

Gause, 19, is a member of the University of Northern Iowa’s Campus Compact, a national coalition of colleges and universities working to advance the public purpose of higher education. The fellowship is named for the late Frank Newman, one of Campus Compact’s founders, who was a tireless advocate for civic engagement in higher education.

“Knowledge doesn’t stop and passions don’t stop. I think this (fellowship) opportunity will allow me to grow as a leader and as a person,” Gause said. “I took every opportunity handed to me and worked really hard and really put myself out there. I like to stay humble. I don’t like all the awards and recognition, but it’s showing me I’m on the right path.”

Gause, who will graduate from UNI in December, is a first-generation college student from Cedar Rapids. She serves as president of UNI’s Black Student Union, vice president of membership and engagement for Panther Ambassadors and is part of a mentoring program.

Opportunities like the Newman Civic fellowship “historically aren’t supposed to be given to me,” Gause said. “For so long, Black people and people of color were not getting the recognition they deserve.”

Gause is planning to go to graduate school to study social work. She wants to work in health care to ensure patients — especially people of color — are treated “with equity and equality.”

“Historically, Black women have not been treated well in health care,” Gause said. “There’s people I know who don’t even go to hospitals because they’re afraid they’re not going to get the care everyone else gets. That stigma needs to be erased. I want to be in those big rooms, be the voice for Black women, Black people and people of color to make sure they are being treated in every aspect of their life with equity.”

While at Prairie, Gause studied at The Academy for Scholastic and Personal Success, which teaches students about Black history, literature, math and science, and offers a post-secondary seminar to help students prepare for college and succeed once they get there. She also studied at Iowa BIG, a project based learning program in Cedar Rapids.

One of her projects at Iowa BIG was to create a podcast called “Power in Peace” that dove into social justice issues in the community and had difficult conversations with community leaders, including former Cedar Rapids Police Chief Wayne Jerman.

These experiences helped her “explore” her passions and begin to understand herself as a Black woman and student, Gause said. Through the Newman Civic fellowship, Gause will get a year of learning and networking opportunities that emphasizes personal, professional and civic growth.

“Lexi is a true leader and takes pride in everything she does,” UNI President Mark Nook wrote in his letter nominating Gause for the fellowship. “It is evident by her grades, volunteer work and involvement at UNI. She knows hard work and is never afraid to roll her sleeves up and get involved.”

"One of the best parts of the Newman Civic Fellowship is the richness of students’ perspectives, experiences and backgrounds and how these varied stories all led to their passionate engagement with the social, political and environmental issues impacting our world,“ Campus Compact President Bobbie Laur said in a news release. ”These students will be the catalysts for change, and we are privileged to help empower them to create that change.“

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