Defiance College Receives National Recognition for Community Service;
Named to President’s Honor Roll

Defiance College has been named to the 2009 President’s Higher Education Community Service Honor Roll, the highest federal recognition a college or university can receive for its commitment to volunteering, service-learning and civic engagement. This is the fourth consecutive year DC has been honored.  “Congratulations to Defiance College and its students for their dedication to service and commitment to improving their local communities,” said Patrick Corvington, CEO of the Corporation for National and Community Service which administers the award. “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.”

Honorees are chosen based on a series of selection factors including the scope and innovation of service projects, percentage of student participation in service activities, incentives for service, and the extent to which the school offers academic service-learning courses.

“We’re thrilled that Defiance College has once again been recognized on a national level for our commitment to service.  This reinforces the value of Defiance’s model of service learning, giving our students real-world experiences that help them grow as people and develop skills that can give them advantages in the marketplace,” said Mark C. Gordon, President of Defiance College. “This is also further recognition of the amazing opportunities for students through the McMaster School for Advancing Humanity as well as numerous other programs at the College that encourage students to work more closely with a broader community.”

Among the contributions that Defiance College makes to communities are service initiatives in Belize, Cambodia, Jamaica and New Orleans, as well as local projects such as the Family Justice Center partnership, youth athletic outreach, Empty Bowls dinner benefiting the PATH Center, Night Without a Home program to bring awareness to rural homelessness, community-based internships, Habitat for Humanity, Special Olympics, reading mentorships at Defiance Elementary School, Dance Marathon to support Children’s Miracle Network, Make-a-Wish holiday party, service at the Defiance County Humane Society animal shelter, collection of hazardous waste materials for recycling, and the Jobs Partnership Program, among many others.

The Corporation oversees the Honor Roll in collaboration with the Department of Education, the Department of Housing and Urban Development, Campus Compact and the American Council on Education.

February 25, 2010