Drinko Center Receives PACC-VISTA Grant

Westminster College's Drinko Center for Excellence in Teaching and Learning has been awarded an AmeriCorps Pennsylvania Campus Compact-Volunteer in Service to America (PACC-VISTA) grant.

The announcement marks the fourth time Westminster has received the award that provides funding to support a staff position focused on developing and supporting community service, service-learning, and civic engagement programs.

The Drinko Center position connects the campus and community through high-impact projects in the areas of tutoring and mentoring; volunteer and civic outreach; and supporting Westminster's service-learning courses.  It helps build Westminster's capacity to educate students for civic engagement through values of service, leadership, collaboration, and transformation to develop sustainable partnerships with local communities.

"We are very excited for the opportunity to continue our relationship with Pennsylvania Campus Compact and we look forward to welcoming our new VISTA," said Dr. Patrick Krantz, Westminster associate professor of education and Drinko Center director.  "Our first step will be to invite applications for skilled, qualified, and passionate candidates who are committed to collaborating with our students, faculty, staff, and community."

The Drinko Center for Excellence in Teaching and Learning was created to enrich undergraduate education at Westminster through advancing world-class teaching as well as by participating in collaborations that address community and regional needs including strengthening K-12 education.  Visit www.westminster.edu/drinko for more information about the Drinko Center and its programs.

Westminster has been named to the President's Higher Education Community Service Honor Roll every year since the program was launched in 2006.  Nearly 70% of Westminster students volunteered last year and logged over 26,000 hours of community service.

PACC is a membership of college presidents from across the commonwealth.  PACC schools serve as vital agents and architects that enrich communities' quality of life and a commitment to deepening learning through civic engagement for the development of socially responsible citizens.

VISTA, founded in 1965, is the national service program designed specifically to fight poverty.  VISTA joined AmeriCorps in 1993 and is now the national leader in the battle to reduce and eliminate poverty in America.

Contact Jeffrey Ledebur, current Westminster PACC-VISTA, at (724) 946-6097 or e-mail ledebujt@westminster.edu for additional information.