FVCC named to national honor roll

The Daily Inter Lake

The Corporation for National and Community Service named Flathead Valley Community College to the President's Higher Education Community Service Honor Roll for exemplary service efforts and service to America's communities.

"It is a great honor to receive this recognition," college President Jane Karas said. "We are proud of our students for their commitment and dedication to our community and to helping those in need."

Launched in 2006, the Community Service Honor Roll represents the highest federal recognition for commitment to service-learning and civic engagement.

Flathead Valley Community College is one of two colleges in Montana placed on the presidential honor roll. A full list is available at www.nationalservice.gov/honorroll.

During the 2007-08, more than 300 FVCC students worked more than 5,400 hours helping the community.

Activities included volunteer income tax assistance, CASA giving tree gift drive, Senior Institute, Seussville University, assisting the Flathead Deaf Club, Project Graduation canned food drive and Youth Day 2007.

For more information on the community college's Service Learning program, call 756-3908.

"In this time of economic distress, we need volunteers more than ever," said Stephen Goldsmith of the Corporation for National and Community Service. "We salute FVCC for making community service a campus priority, and thank the millions of college students who are helping to renew America through service to others."

The President's Higher Education Community Service Honor Roll is presented during the annual conference of the American Council on Education.Recent studies have underlined the importance of service-learning and volunteering to college students.

It was based on scope and innovation of service projects, percentage of students in service activities, incentives for service and numbers of academic service learning courses.