The Corporation for National and Community Service honored Westminster College with a place on the President's Higher Education Community Service Honor Roll for exemplary service efforts and service to America's communities.

"A central theme of our curriculum is to foster strong personal and social values as an important outcome for our future graduates," said Westminster President Dr. Richard H. Dorman. "Westminster College is proud to have been recognized by the Corporation for National and Community Service a third time for its commitment to service learning. It affirms that we are succeeding in this mission."

Launched in 2006, the Community Service Honor Roll is the highest federal recognition a school can achieve for its commitment to service learning and civic engagement. Honorees for the award were chosen based on a series of selection factors including scope and innovation of service projects; percentage of student participation in service activities; incentives for service; and the extent to which the school offers academic service learning courses.

"It is inspiring to see what Westminster College can do to give a small part back to make our community better for our neighbors, our families, and our friends," said Dr. Terri Lenox, co-director of Westminster's Drinko Center for Excellence in Teaching and Learning. "The Drinko Center is pleased to help support community service and service learning at Westminster. I'm proud of the students, faculty, and staff who are committed to these endeavors."

Nearly 80% of Westminster students volunteered last year, three times the national average (26.4% of the U.S. population) and nearly twice the national average for college students (43%).

A sampling of local organizations that benefit from Westminster student volunteers include: Lawrence County Community Action Partnership, Head Start, local school districts, Walker Neighborhood House, Adult Literacy Center, Big Brothers/Big Sisters, City Rescue Mission, Women's Crisis Shelter, East Side Bread Basket Food Pantry, Special Olympics, Royal Family Kids Camp, Habitat for Humanity, and the American Cancer Society.

"In this time of economic distress, we need volunteers more than ever. College students represent an enormous pool of idealism and energy to help tackle some of our toughest challenges," said Stephen Goldsmith, vice chair of the board of directors of the Corporation for National and Community Service, which oversees the Honor Roll. "We salute Westminster College for making community service a campus priority, and thank the millions of college students who are helping to renew America through service to others."

The Corporation for National and Community Service is a federal agency that improves lives, strengthens communities, and fosters civic engagement through service and volunteering. The Corporation administers Senior Corps; AmeriCorps; and Learn and Serve America, a program that supports service learning in schools, institutions of higher education, and community-based organizations.

The Honor Roll is a program of the Corporation, in collaboration with the Department of Education, the Department of Housing and Urban Development, and the President's Council on Service and Civic Participation. The President's Higher Education Community Service Honor Roll is presented during the annual conference of the American Council on Education.

Visit www.nationalservice.gov/honorroll for more information about the Honor Roll.

Contact Lenox at (724) 946-6033 or e-mail lenoxtl@westminster.edu for additional information.

Honor Roll information