Florida Tech Named to Presidential Community Service Honor Roll for Fourth Straight Year
MELBOURNE, FLA.—Florida Institute of Technology has again been named to the President’s Higher Education Community Service Honor Roll. The recognition lauds the university for exemplary community service efforts. This is the fourth straight year that Florida Tech has achieved this national recognition.
“Civic engagement cannot simply be taught—it must be experienced,” said Florida Tech President Anthony J. Catanese. “Florida Tech is pleased to be honored nationally for our dedication to making the world a better place. Our students, faculty and staff take very seriously their commitment to helping others.”
Florida Tech is honored for its Civic Engagement Initiative that seeks to provide opportunities for students, faculty and staff to engage in issues of public concern. Currently, 145 campus organizations and departments participate, representing 1,444 individual volunteers. Through December 2009, the group has donated over 57,000 community and campus service hours and raised $146,000 for worthy causes. Meanwhile, more than 150 Presidential Volunteer Service Awards from the President of the United States to Florida Tech students, faculty, staff and organizations are handed out yearly at the Student Leader Awards. The Greek Life community alone represents 410 individual volunteers. Through December 2009, Greek Life has donated over 34,000 of the 57,000 community and campus service hours and raised $68,000 out of the $146,000 for worthy causes.
The Corporation for National and Community Service, which administers the annual Honor Roll award, recognized more than 700 colleges and universities for their impact on issues from poverty and homelessness to environmental justice. On campuses across the country, thousands of students joined their faculty to develop innovative programs and projects to meet local needs using the skills gained in their classrooms. Business students served as consultants to budget-strapped nonprofits and businesses, law students volunteered at legal clinics, and dozens of others organized anti-hunger campaigns.
“Congratulations to the awardees and students for their dedication to service and commitment to improving their local communities,” said Patrick Corvington, the corporation’s CEO. “Our nation’s students are a critical part of the equation and vital to our efforts to tackle the most persistent challenges we face. They have achieved impactful results and demonstrated the value of putting knowledge into practice to help renew America through service.”
College students make a significant contribution to the volunteer sector; in 2009, 3.16 million students performed more than 300 million hours of service. Each year, the corporation invests more than $150 million in fostering a culture of service on college campuses through grants awarded by its programs; the education awards that AmeriCorps members receive at the conclusion of their term of service to pay for college; and through support of training, research, recognition, and other initiatives to spur college service. For more information, visit www.learnandserve.gov.
