Newman University has been named for the third time to the President’s Higher Education Community Service Honor Roll for its exemplary service to America’s communities in 2011.
Newman is one of only eight colleges and universities in Kansas and the only university in Wichita selected for inclusion on the 2012 Honor Roll.
The President’s Higher Education Community Service Honor Roll is the highest federal recognition a school can achieve for its commitment to service-learning and civic engagement. The program recognizes colleges and universities nationwide that reflect the values of community service through innovative service projects and service-learning programs, and that achieve meaningful outcomes in their communities. Nationwide, only 642 colleges and universities were selected for this year’s Honor Roll for their commitment to bettering their communities through community service and service-learning.
“We are extremely proud to be recognized and honored in this way for our dedication to community service and service-learning,” said Newman President Noreen M. Carrocci, Ph.D. “To be named to the Honor Roll for the third time since its founding in 2006 is a significant achievement, and a testament to our long-standing commitment to service. At Newman, we have identified four Core Values that define who we are and what we stand for, and ‘Culture of Service’ is one of them. I commend our students, faculty and staff for their devotion to service. They are truly ‘living’ our values.”
The announcement was made earlier this month in Washington, D.C., by officials from the Corporation for National and Community Service and the U.S. Department of Education, which administer the program.
“Through service, these institutions are creating the next generation of leaders by challenging students to tackle tough issues and create positive impacts in the community,” said Robert Velasco, acting CEO of the Corporation for National and Community Service. “We applaud the Honor Roll schools, their faculty and students for their commitment to make service a priority in and out of the classroom.”
Newman students collectively perform thousands of hours of service work each year. For the 2010-2011 academic year, students logged more than 241,000 hours on service projects including helping underprivileged children receive vision care, vaccinations and health screening, creating blankets for lower income families, blood drives, holiday season toy and food drives, and an annual trip to Crownpoint, N.M., to perform work for underprivileged families. Students also served in places as diverse as the Lord’s Diner, local hospitals, homeless shelters, elementary schools, and others.
Of the many students who performed some sort of service or service-learning project during the academic year, several were “service scholars,” or students who performed service projects as part of a scholarship program. Approximately 125 students were ASC Community Leader Scholars, or members of a program named for the university’s founders the Adorers of the Blood of Christ (ASC), who participate in leadership and service classes as well as providing community service.
The culture of service at Newman begins in the institution’s mission, which charges the entire university to a commitment of empowering graduates to transform society through engagement and service. Catholic social teaching also directs the institution to base all decisions on the common good, with the goal of developing and empowering people. The mission and charism of the Adorers of the Blood of Christ focus on empowerment, fostering oneness, and celebrating life. The Newman University Core Value of service is an outward manifestation of these principles.
The President’s Higher Education Community Service Honor Roll is presented during the annual conference of the American Council on Education. For a full list of 2012 recipients, visit www.NationalService.gov/HonorRoll.
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