Campus News

Westminster Named to Presidential Honor Roll For Community Service

College students completed more than 42,000 hours of community service in 2008-09

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Krista DeAngelis (801) 832-2682

Feb. 25, 2010


SALT LAKE CITY– The Corporation for National and Community Service announced today that Westminster College has been named to the 2009 President's Higher Education Community Service Honor Roll with Distinction for its commitment and achievement in community service. Westminster and BYU are the only two Utah institutions recognized on the Honor Roll with "Distinction."

“We are thrilled to hear the news that we have been named again to the 2009 Honor Roll,” said Julie Tille, director of Westminster’s Center for Civic Engagement. “The entire campus makes a great effort to be civically engaged and provide quality service, service-learning and civic engagement opportunities to our students as a learning opportunity.”

The corporation announces the annual Honor Roll award recipients, recognizing more than 700 colleges and universities for exemplary, innovative and effective community service programs. This year, 115 institutions were recognized with “Distinction.” Honorees are 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.

From working with refugees, to raising money for rape centers, Westminster’s service projects focus on a variety of issues. During the 2008-09 school year, 66 Westminster classes included a service-learning component. Students participated in more that 42,000 community service hours, up from 33,000 hours the previous year. Last year students hosted V-Day activities that helped spread awareness about sexual violence against women and helped raise money for the local Rape Recovery Center. Additionally, the college developed a partnership with local East High School to assist disadvantaged students who are struggling with math and other subjects. The school’s Social Science Club held a local refugee education campaign which promoted information on mentoring local refugee youth. Student activists also held a series of events entitled the “Sudan Community Empowerment Project” where students hosted Camp Darfur displays, hunger banquets and a $2-a-day challenge which raised $2,700 toward the construction of a school in Duk Padiet, Southern Sudan.

All of the college’s clubs and organizations complete at least one service project every year. One whole day during First-Year Student Orientation is committed to community service. Additionally, hundreds of Westminster students provide service each semester. These activities are coordinated and supported by the college’s Center for Civic Engagement.

“This award recognizes the importance Westminster College and the Center for Civic Engagement place on the active and engaged learning for our students,” explained Tille. “It also serves to demonstrate the dedication we have to partner with our community agencies and make real and lasting differences to better the Salt Lake community.”

For a list of institutions awarded the Honor Roll with Distinction award, visit http://www.learnandserve.gov/pdf/10_0224_LSA_HRwithDistinction.pdf.

About The Corporation for National and Community Service:
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. For more information, go to www.nationalservice.gov.

About Westminster College:
Westminster is a nationally recognized, comprehensive liberal arts college. With a broad array of graduate and undergraduate programs, Westminster is distinguished by its unique environment for learning. Westminster prepares students for success through active and engaged learning, real world experiences and its vibrant campus community. Westminster’s unique location, adjacent to the Rocky Mountains and to the dynamic city of Salt Lake, further enriches the college experience. For more information, visit www.westminstercollege.edu.