Centenary Receives President's Honor Roll Award for Service

School Honored for Distinguished Community Service

SHREVEPORT, La. - The Corporation for National and Community Service named Centenary College of Louisiana to the President's Higher Education Community Service Honor Roll for exemplary service efforts and service to disadvantaged youth.

"I couldn't be more pleased with this designation and honor for Centenary College and its Service-Learning program," said Diane Tooke, Director of Service Learning at Centenary College. "This is the second year we have received this recognition and I hope the second in a long stream of years Centenary makes the President's Honor Roll."

According to Dr. Ken Schwab, the award signifies all the hard work and the spirit of volunteerism that is Centenary. "Our unique three-part Centenary Plan takes students beyond the classroom to prepare them to be a citizen of the world, proactive in their own lives as well as the lives of those around them," said Dr. Schwab. This three-tier program prepares students by helping them, 'Explore Careers,' 'Experience other Cultures,' and 'Engage in Community Service,' he added. "Our College students are tackling the toughest problems across the state and across the country, demonstrating their compassion, commitment, and creativity in by serving as others and represent a renewed spirit of civic engagement," said Dr. Schwab.

Launched in 2006, the Community Service Honor Roll is the highest federal recognition a school can achieve for its commitment to service-learning and civic engagement. Honorees for the award were chosen based on a series of selection factors including scope and innovativeness of service projects, percentage of student participation in service activities, incentives for service, and the extent to which the school offers academic service-learning courses.

The College was honored for its exemplary projects that define service to the community. Among the service projects were a trip to Northern India to teach English as a second language to Tibetan refugees; a Fall and Spring break trip to hurricane ravaged New Orleans to assist in the construction of homes that could be rebuilt; and Service Learning in which 90 students volunteered for a service project, clocking at least 27 hours with the agency. The Christian Leadership Center was also highlighted for the work the staff does in field placement experience with theological reflection and training in practical applications for ministry.

The Honor Roll is jointly sponsored by the Corporation, through its Learn and Serve America program, and the Department of Education, the Department of Housing and Urban Development, USA Freedom Corps, and the President's Council on Service and Civic Participation.

In congratulating the winners, U.S. Secretary of Education Margaret Spellings said, "Americans rely on our higher education system to prepare students for citizenship and the workforce. We look to institutions like these to provide leadership in partnering with local schools to shape the civic, democratic and economic future of our country."

Overall, the Community Service Honor Roll awarded six schools with Presidential Awards. In addition, four schools were recognized as Special Achievement Award winners, 127 as Honor Roll with Distinction members and 391 schools as Honor Roll members. In total, 528 schools were recognized. A full list is available at www.nationalservice.gov/honorroll.

The Corporation for National and Community Service is a federal agency that improves lives, strengthens communities, and fosters civic engagement through service and volunteering. The Corporation administers Senior Corps, AmeriCorps and Learn and Serve America, a program that supports service-learning in schools, institutions of higher education and community-based organizations. For more information, go to nationalservice.gov.

About Centenary

Centenary College of Louisiana is a private, four-year arts and sciences college affiliated with the United Methodist Church. Founded in 1825, it is the oldest chartered liberal arts college west of the Mississippi River and is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools. Centenary is one of 16 colleges and universities constituting the Associated Colleges of the South and is regularly rated as one of the top colleges in the South.