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For the fifth year in a row, Bluefield College has been named to the President’s Higher Education Community Service Honor Roll for its exemplary service efforts.

Chris Shoemaker

June 6, 2012

Sponsored jointly by the Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS) and the U.S. Department of Education, the Community Service Honor Roll recognizes colleges and universities nationwide that reflect the values of excellent community service and achieve meaningful outcomes in their communities.

“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 CNCS. “We applaud the Honor Roll schools, their faculty and students for their commitment to make service a priority in and out of the classroom.”

Honorees for the award are chosen based on their commitment to service learning and to bettering their communities through community service. Winners are also chosen based on the scope and innovativeness of their service projects, the percentage of students participating in service activities, incentives for service, the extent to which service learning is included in the academic curriculum, the school’s commitment to long-term campus-community partnerships, and measurable community outcomes as a result of service.

“This recognition is truly meaningful and belongs to the entire campus community for the countless hours given in service and missions last year,” said BC president Dr. David Olive. “Service is part of our ethos; it defines and distinguishes who we are and is an outgrowth of our Christian commitment to serving others.”

Last year, BC students, faculty and staff participated in a variety of mission projects at home and abroad, provided tax preparation services to the community, volunteered at local after-school programs, raised money for cancer research and clean water projects, provided food, clothing and new shoes to the needy, helped renovate local dilapidated homes, and hosted dozens of mission groups on campus for ministry and mission projects in the community.

The BC family also volunteered countless hours of assistance to local charities, including the Bluefield Union Mission, the Bland Ministry Center, and WISE Center (Women in Search of Empowerment). In addition, the school hosted free classes, lectures and discussions on African American history, Appalachian culture, Chinese history, faith, and global education, along with free community outreach sports camps and music, art and theatre concerts and exhibits.

“The Honor Roll schools should be proud of their work to elevate the role of service-learning on their campuses,” said Eduardo Ochoa, assistant secretary for the U.S. Department of Education. “Galvanizing their students to become involved in projects that address pressing concerns and enrich their academic experience has a lasting impact -- both in the communities in which they work and on their own sense of purpose as citizens of the world.”

Launched in 2006, the President’s Higher Education Community Service Honor Roll annually highlights the role colleges and universities play in solving community problems and placing more students on a lifelong path of civic engagement by recognizing institutions that achieve meaningful, measureable outcomes in the communities they serve. It is the highest federal recognition a school can achieve for its commitment to service learning, volunteerism, and civic engagement.

The 2012 Honor Roll recipients were announced at the American Council on Education’s 94th Annual Meeting on March 12, 2012, in Los Angeles, California. For a full list of recipients and descriptions of their service, visit www.nationalservice.gov/honorroll.

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