Centenary Receives Presidential Honor for Community Service

Students from Centenary take part in the BIG Event 4 earlier this year. Centenary has been selected for the 2010 President's Higher Education Community Service Honor Role for five years in a row since the program started in 2006.

SHREVEPORT, La. (Centenary News Service) — Today Centenary College of Louisiana announced its selection for the 2010 President's Higher Education Community Service Honor Roll. Centenary has received the honor for five years in a row since the program started in 2006.

The annual honor recognizes colleges for a demonstrated commitment to volunteering, service-learning, and civic engagement. The Honor Roll is an initiative of the Corporation for National and Community Service, a federal agency that oversees national service and promotes volunteerism.

"This is a tremendous honor for Centenary to be named again to this list of colleges and universities who take pride in developing student leaders through service to their communities," said Chris Lavan, Centenary's Director of Community and Intercultural Engagement and alumnus of the school. "We continuously engage our students in a way that integrates living, learning, and action, and therefore helps them to learn more about themselves and their community through the act of "giving back."

"Centenary students dive into community service with a passion that's inspiring," said Centenary's Vice President for Student Development Betsy Eaves. "Whether helping prepare tax returns for local residents or cleaning up area neighborhoods, our students know what it means to serve the community — and in the process, they learn more about themselves."

The mission of the Office of Community at Centenary College is to integrate service to the greater community with classroom instruction, connection to academic content, and personal reflection. The Office of Community also offers and supports a number of programs for students, faculty, staff, alumni, and other members of the Centenary Community to get involved with service efforts throughout our local community.

For more information, visit Centenary.edu/community and LearnAndServe.gov.

About Centenary College of Louisiana

Centenary College 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 has been recognized as "One of the Best 371 Colleges" by the Princeton Review and one of "America's Best Colleges" and one of "America's Best Private Colleges" by Forbes.com. In 2008 Centenary College celebrated 100 years in Shreveport and Bossier City.