Penn State DuBois was admitted to the Honor Roll for its work in community service, education, environmental stewardship, and more. The campus was first named to the Honor Roll in 2010.
“Through service, these institutions are creating the next generation of leaders by challenging students to tackle tough issues and create positive impacts in the community,” said Robert Velasco, Acting CEO of CNCS. “We applaud the Honor Roll schools, their faculty and students for their commitment to making service a priority in and out of the classroom. Together, service and learning increase civic engagement while fostering social innovation among students, empowering them to solve challenges within their communities.”
“Preparing students to participate in our democracy and providing them with opportunities to take on local and global issues in their course work are as central to the mission of education as boosting college completion and closing the achievement gap,” said Eduardo Ochoa, the U.S. Department of Education’s assistant secretary for postsecondary education. “The Honor Roll schools should be proud of their work to elevate the role of service-learning on their campuses. Galvanizing their students to become involved in projects that address pressing concerns and enrich their academic experience has a lasting impact – both in the communities in which they work and on their own sense of purpose as citizens of the world. I hope we’ll see more and more colleges and universities following their lead.”
The President’s Higher Education Community Service Honor Roll recognizes higher education institutions that reflect the values of exemplary community service and achieve meaningful outcomes in their communities. Inspired by the thousands of college students who traveled across the country to support relief efforts along the Gulf Coast after Hurricane Katrina, the initiative celebrates the transformative power and volunteer spirit that exists within the higher education community.
Penn State DuBois students were among those who traveled to the Gulf Coast to help rebuild communities following Katrina. Other contributions Penn State DuBois has made to community service include mission trips to tornado-ravaged Joplin, Missouri and the Navajo Nation in Arizona. Students also participate in the Martin Luther King Day of Service each year, when they spend the holiday volunteering with charities. Additionally, club events such as an annual haunted house and Breakfast with Santa provide family entertainment in the community, while raising funds for local causes.
“Great pride is the first thought that came to my mind in learning that the campus had been named to the 2011 President’s Higher Education Community Service Honor Roll,” said Chancellor Anita McDonald. “Penn State DuBois has had a long tradition of community engagement and service and I am very pleased that the students, faculty and staff have received this prestigious national recognition for their hard work and commitment to serving the people of our region, and beyond.”
The Corporation for National and Community Service, which has administered the Honor Roll since 2006, admitted a total of 642 schools, colleges and universities for their impact on issues from literacy and neighborhood revitalization to supporting at-risk youth. Of that total, 513 were named to the Honor Roll, and 110 received the recognition of Honor Roll with distinction. For a full list of recipients, visit www.NationalService.gov/HonorRoll
Steve Harmic, Penn State DuBois