Monday, April 26, 2010

Westminster College's Drinko Center for Excellence in Teaching and Learning announced 22 Westminster students were selected as Scholars in Service to Pennsylvania (SISPA) for 2010-2011.

Scholars in Service to Pennsylvania is an AmeriCorps Education Award program that recognizes college students' deep commitments to community service. Students involved in the program commit to completing 300 hours of service in one year and receive an award of $1,132 from the Corporation for National Service to use toward educational expenses at Westminster, including student loans and tuition.

At Westminster, the program is overseen by the Drinko Center and coordinated by Jeff Ledebur, a 2009 Westminster graduate who serves as Americorps*Volunteer in Service to America (VISTA).

Students work with a variety of service agencies, including: student coordinator or service-learning assistant in the Drinko Center; Lawrence County Community Action Partnership; Walker Neighborhood House; Villa Maria Community Center; SouthWest Gardens; Big Brothers/Big Sisters; Shenango Presbyterian Senior Care; ICARE House; New Castle Y; New Bedford Presbyterian Kids Zone; Royal Family Kids Camp; and New Wilmington Presbyterian Church.

Westminster has been named to the President's Higher Education Honor Roll every year since the program was launched in 2006. Nearly 65% of Westminster students volunteered last year, logging over 26,000 hours of service, over twice the national average (26.4% of the U.S. population) and more than 50% higher than the national average for college students (42.5%).

Contact Ledebur at (724) 946-6194, e-mail ledebujt@westminster.edu, or visit www.westminster.edu/drinko for more information about the program.

About Westminster College...
Founded in 1852 and related to the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), Westminster College is a top tier liberal arts college and a national leader in graduation rate performance, according to U.S. News Guide to America's Best Colleges. Westminster ranked third among liberal arts colleges in social mobility, according to the Washington Monthly College Guide, and is one of the most affordable national liberal arts colleges in Pennsylvania. Westminster is also honored as one of "The Best 371 Colleges" and "Best in the Northeast" by The Princeton Review, and is named to the President's Honor Roll for excellence in service learning.

Nearly 1,600 undergraduate and graduate students benefit from individualized attention from dedicated faculty while choosing from 41 majors and nearly 100 organizations on the New Wilmington, Pa., campus. Visit www.westminster.edu/advantage to view "Advantage: Westminster" A Strategic Plan 2010-2020.