University Park, IL–(ENEWSPF)– Governors State University has been named to the 2009 President’s Higher Education Community Service Honor Roll, the highest federal recognition a college or university can receive for its commitment to volunteering, service-learning, and civic engagement.
“We are proud of this recognition,” said university president Dr. Elaine P. Maimon. “GSU’s commitment to serving the community has been part of our mission for more than 40 years. Our students demonstrate a sense of personal responsibility, service, and commitment to their communities.”
The Corporation for National and Community Service, which administers the annual Honor Roll award, recognized more than 700 colleges and universities for their impact on issues from poverty and homelessness to environmental justice. On campuses across the country, thousands of students joined their faculty to develop innovative programs and projects to meet local needs using the skills gained in their classrooms.
Community service projects that GSU students recently participated in include providing holiday food baskets to needy families, collection and donation of school supplies and back packs to at risk children, work with Rebuilding Together – Metro Chicago, and coordination of a silent auction that raised over $5,000 to support the Jennifer S. Fallick Cancer Support Center.
College students make a significant contribution to the volunteer sector. In 2009, 3.16 million students performed more than 300 million hours of service, according to the Volunteering in America study released by the corporation.
“Congratulations to Governors State University and its students for their dedication to service and commitment to improving their local communities,” said Patrick Corvington, CEO of the Corporation for National and Community Service. “Our nation’s students are a critical part of the equation and vital to our efforts to tackle the most persistent challenges we face. They have achieved impactful results and demonstrated the value of putting knowledge into practice to help renew America through service.”
The Corporation oversees the Honor Roll in collaboration with the Department of Education, the Department of Housing and Urban Development, Campus Compact and the American Council on Education.
