President's Higher Education Community Service Honor Roll Recognizes Centenary College

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SHREVEPORT, LA — Centenary College has been recognized for outstanding community service by being named to the President's Higher Education Community Service Honor Roll. This award recognizes Centenary's students, faculty and staff for building a culture of service and civic engagement. This is the first year this award is being given.

At total of 492 colleges and universities were acknowledged for Presidential Awards by the Departments of Education and Housing and Urban Development. Awards presented recognized excellence in community service and the schools' promotion of volunteerism on their campuses.

About the honor Centenary President Kenneth L. Schwab said, "This award is a real honor for Centenary because it affirms the hard and generous work our faculty, staff, and students do serving our local community and beyond. We believe that true civic engagement is an essential component of a Centenary education, and I am proud of how this campus community fosters serving in that way."

The Presidential Honor Roll is part of a larger program by the Corporation for National and Community Service. Its mission is to improve lives, strengthen communities and foster civic engagement through service and volunteering. The program is also sponsored by USA Freedom Corps and the President's Council on Service and Civic Participation.

The Presidential Honor Roll is part of a strategic initiative of the Corporation for National and Community Service. The Corporation works with federal agencies, student groups and higher education leaders to engage five million college students in community service by the year 2010.

Centenary College promotes community service through its Service Learning program. Service Learning is one of three components of the Centenary Plan and ensures that all students participate in volunteer work before graduation. Centenary also employs a full-time employee responsible for coordinating and supporting service on campus, an element that the President's plan aims to implement in other schools around the country.

Dian Tooke, Centenary's Service Learning director, said, "This recognition is a visible acknowledgment of the College's commitment to encouraging a lifelong dedication not only to learning but also to serving others. I am proud of my work at Centenary, its commitment to Service Learning, and this recognition. But most of all, I proud to know and work with our students who are committed to excellence and serve zealously around the world."