University News
WIU: Presidential Honor Roll for Community Service
May 18, 2011
MACOMB/MOLINE, IL – For the third consecutive year, Western Illinois University has been named to the President's Higher Education Community Service Honor Roll for its exemplary service efforts. Western is one of four public universities -- and one of 20 colleges and universities -- in Illinois named to the 2010 Honor Roll.
According to the Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS), the President's Higher Education Community Service Honor Roll, launched in 2006, annually recognizes approximately 600 institutions of higher education across the U.S. for exemplary, innovative and effective community service programs. The President's Honor Roll increases the public's awareness of the contributions that colleges and their students make to local communities and the nation as a whole.
Within the past year, Western's Volunteer Services and many other campus-based organizations and departments sponsored numerous activities, including playing Big Pink Volleyball, a breast cancer research fundraiser; sponsoring numerous other fundraisers, such as St. Baldrick's to raise money for cancer research; hosting the Angel Tree program; tutoring and mentoring area elementary school children; participating in Western's annual We Care campus clean-up; and more.
"The service learning component is essential to our students' higher education experience. These activities enhance our students' experiences and provide valuable assistance to our community," said WIU President Al Goldfarb. "One of Western's core values is social responsibility, and it is our hope that our students continue to volunteer and serve their community once they graduate. It's an honor that Western was recognized for the third consecutive year for our community service efforts, and it is a testament that our University puts great importance on service learning and volunteerism."
In addition to special events and programming, members of Western's All Volunteer Effort (WAVE), coordinated through Volunteer Services, participated each week in such activities as volunteering at The Elms, Grand Prairie Assisted Living, and Countryview Care Center; walking dogs and cleaning kennels at the McDonough County Animal Shelter; completing outdoor cleanups at Horn Field Campus; interacting with children at YMCA Daycare and Prairie View Housing; and helping at the Western Illinois Museum and West Central Illinois Art Center, among other activities. WAVE members also participated in special events such as Make A Difference Day, the International Bazaar, Relay For Life and Volunteer Week.
The Honor Roll is a program of the CNCS, in collaboration with the U.S. Department of Education, the Department of Housing and Urban Development and the President's Council on Service and Civic Participation.
For more information on Volunteer Services at WIU, call the Office of Student Activities at (309) 298-3232 or visit student.services.wiu.edu/osa/volunteer. See the complete honor roll listing at learnandserve.gov/about/programs/higher_ed_honorroll.asp.
Posted By: University Communications (U-Communications@wiu.edu)
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