Maurice “Bear” Tosé II has been selected for the two-year paid fellowship that is awarded to an individual who demonstrates an interest in philanthropy, public policy, community service and the nonprofit sector.
Elon senior Maurice “Bear” Tosé II has been selected as a fellow with the Z. Smith Reynolds Foundation and will spend two years working with the private family foundation that seeks to improve the lives of North Carolinians.
Tosé, originally from Annapolis, Maryland, has been an Honors Fellow, Presidential Scholar, Provost Scholar and Civic Engagement Scholar during his time at Elon while majoring in policy studies and minoring in economics, poverty and social justice, and geographic information systems. He’s a member of the Phi Beta Kappa, Phi Eta Sigma, Phi Kappa Phi and Pi Gamma Mu honor societies as well as the Omicron Delta Kappa Leadership Society.
Active in service-learning while at Elon, Tosé completed more than 200 hours of service at the Positive Attitude Youth Center in Burlington, which reaches out to children and young adults to help them mature physically, spiritually and emotionally. As a volunteer, he completed more than 80 hours of service through Allied Churches of Alamance County, a collaborative effort to address housing and hunger issues in the community.
Tosé said that the fellowship will provide him the opportunity to continue working toward social change in North Carolina. “This fellowship will give me the skills to build on my knowledge and understanding of social issues in the South by helping research issues, develop programs and strengthen support networks,” Tosé said. “I will be able to hear of the innovative ways in which stakeholders such as policymakers, nonprofit directors and community leaders are able to confront the issues of social and racial injustice.”
Following the fellowship, Tosé hopes to pursue a graduate degree in public administration, city management and urban policy or in the area of urban and regional planning with the career goal of working in local government as a city or county manager.
Students and recent alums interested in nationally competitive fellowships like this one are invited to visit the National and International Fellowships Office in Powell building or to call (336) 278-5749.