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.