National honor roll recognizes State in three categories

Indiana State University continues to lead the way in community service.

The Corporation for National and Community Service has released the 2014 President\'s Higher Education Honor Roll and Indiana State is the only public institution in the state recognized in three categories: community service, economic opportunity and education.

Indiana State has been recognized for community service each year since the list was launched in 2006 and was recognized with distinction in that category for the third straight year and fourth year overall. This year\'s honor roll includes 766 colleges and universities and 120 are cited with distinction.

\"It\'s great when the hard work of our students, faculty and staff pays off in national recognition and it is especially gratifying that Indiana State was recognized this year in all three categories for which we applied,\" said Dan Bradley, university president. \"Being cited in the area of economic opportunity is especially significant because this category recognizes programs that build economic independence, increase family stability and create more sustainable and resilient communities.\"

Earlier this year, Washington Monthly magazine ranked Indiana State No. 1 in the nation for community service hours by students, the second straight year for such recognition.

From 2010 to 2013, Indiana State students averaged more than 1.4 million hours of service per year to 115 agencies, according to the university\'s Center for Community Engagement. More than 1,800 incoming freshmen took part in the university\'s annual Fall Donaghy Day of Service prior to the start of classes.

For the past 10 years, Indiana State students have reached out to other areas of the country and overseas to provide community service during Alternative Spring Break and just last week nine students took part in the university\'s first Alternative Winter Break, performing a variety of projects at the Marine Science Center in Ponce Inlet, Fla.

\"Each year, students tell us they are attracted to Indiana State because of our commitment to service learning,\" said Nancy Rogers, associate vice president for community engagement and experiential learning. \"From community clinics and youth facilities in our own backyard to our annual Indianapolis Day of Service and many service learning trips, our students, faculty and staff are truly making a difference in the lives of the people they serve.\"

Evidence of community engagement the Corporation for National and Community Service requested for the honor roll captures information from all aspects of the university, noted Cat Paterson, faculty fellow with the university\'s Center for Community Engagement.

\"Community engagement activities presented in the Indiana State University application came from all colleges and units on campus,\" she said. \"This honor represents the good work of the entire campus.\"

Photo: http://www.smugmug.com/photos/i-JZzf6CK/0/3X/i-JZzf6CK-3X.jpg

Photo: http://isuphoto.smugmug.com/Other/Media-Services/Media-Trips/Winter-Spring-Break-2014/i-t9XPcFd/0/3X/10868271_805526906175149_4491520101294791803_n-3X.jpg - Indiana State University students Brandon Query of Brazil, Ind. (right) and Calen McDonald of Terre Haute, retrieve a fishing line for recycling as part of their 2014 Alternative Winter Break experience at the Marine Science Center in Ponce Inlet, Fla. McDonald served as student leader for the trip.

Photo: http://isuphoto.smugmug.com/Other/Media-Services/Media-Tripsinter-Spring-Break-2014/i-k5v9kK3/0/3X/10849740_805526949508478_7281554418403985806_n-3X.jpg - Indiana State University students (left to right) Dillion Killion of Sullivan, Alora Rauckman-Shouse of Terre Haute, Calen McDonald of Terre Haute and Kali Crowell of Fairbanks clean up a jetty at the Marine Science Center in Ponce Inlet, Fla. during their 2014 Alternative Winter Break.

Contact: Cat Paterson, faculty fellow, Center for Community Engagement, Indiana State University, 812-237-3693 or cat.paterson@indstate.edu

Writer: Dave Taylor, media relations director, Office of Communications and Marketing, Indiana State University, 812-237-3743 or dave.taylor@indstate.edu