The Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS) today announced the five institutions that are the Presidential Awardees in the 2013 President's Higher Education Community Service Honor Roll. This designation is the highest honor a college or university can receive for its commitment to volunteering, service-learning, and civic engagement.

The institutions were cited for their achievements in general community service or in one of two special focus areas that align with the President's education and innovation priorities, the Promise Neighborhoods model, and early childhood education.

The 2013 Presidential Award winners are: Georgia Perimeter College, Dunwoody, GA; Gettysburg College, Gettysburg, PA; and the University of Connecticut, Storrs-Mansfield, CT; as well as La Sierra University, Riverside, CA, for its Promise Neighborhoods model; and Nazareth College, Rochester, NY, for its early childhood education efforts.

“We congratulate the awardees and the students for their dedication to service,” said Wendy Spencer, CEO of CNCS. “These institutions have inspired students and faculty alike to roll up their sleeves and work alongside members of the community to solve problems and improve their neighbors' lives.”

In addition to the Presidential Award winners, a total of 690 higher education institutions were named to the 2013 President's Higher Education Community Service Honor Roll. Of this number, 113 institutions earned the recognition of Honor Roll with Distinction.

Inspired by the thousands of college students who traveled across the country to support relief efforts along the Gulf Coast after Hurricane Katrina, CNCS has administered the award since 2006.

“Communities are strengthened when we all come together, and we are encouraged that these institutions and their students have made service a priority,” said U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan. “Civic engagement should be a key component of every student's education experience. Through reaching out to meet the needs of their neighbors, these students are deepening their impact, strengthening our democracy and ultimately preparing themselves to be successful citizens.”

College students make a significant contribution to their communities through volunteering and service, according to the most recent Volunteering and Civic Life in America report. In 2012, 3.1 million college students dedicated more than 118 million hours of service across the country — a contribution valued at $2.5 billion.

“Across the nation, in the communities in which HUD works, I've seen many students who have committed themselves to assisting individuals and strengthening neighborhoods,” said U.S. Housing and Urban Development Secretary Shaun Donovan. “HUD congratulates these institutions and is honored to be part of this effort that recognizes colleges and their students for putting the common good before personal gain.”

CNCS manages the program in collaboration with the U.S. Department of Education and the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, as well as the American Council on Education and Campus Compact.

For more information about the 2013 Presidential Award winners and a full list of Honor Roll awardees, visit the CNCS Honor Roll page.

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