WUSTL has been listed on the President’s Higher Education Community Service Honor Roll, which responds to President Bush’s call to service by building on and supporting the civic engagement missions of America’s colleges and universities.
“This honor is a reflection of our students’ passion and enthusiasm for serving their community. They have founded, led, supported or championed every community service opportunity at Washington University, and they do so with creativity and great heart,” said Stephanie Kurtzman, director of the Community Service Office and associate director of the Richard A. Gephardt Institute for Public Service.
“The Community Service Office is proud to be a catalyst for students to come together with the community in meaningful ways to better our region, our nation and our world. We all know the needs are great, but I am constantly amazed by the strides the University community has taken in recent years to take on sustained commitments to serving those in need.”
The new honor roll recognition program is designed to increase public awareness of the contributions that college students make within their local communities and across the country through volunteer service.
Pursuant to the Universities Rebuilding America Partnership announced by the Corporation for National and Community Service and the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development last fall, the honor roll program’s special emphasis this year is on recognizing service activities performed in response to the Gulf Coast hurricanes of 2005.
The program also identifies and promotes community service model programs and practices in higher education.
A government report, “College Students Helping America,” concludes that college student volunteering increased by about 20 percent between 2002 and 2005, as students have become involved in helping their communities.
WUSTL turns out more than 1,000 volunteers annually for Service First, and countless others donate time throughout the year.