MCC NAMED TO PRESIDENT’S COMMUNITY SERVICE HONOR ROLL

Maui community College has been named to the President’s Higher Education Community Service Honor Roll.The designation was issued by the Corporation for National and Community Service—and is the highest recognition a school can achieve for its commitment to service-learning and civic engagement.More than 100 students at MCC participate in a number of partnerships established with more than 40 nonprofit organizations, including Maui Nui Botanical Gardens, American Heart Association, and American Lung Association.Two programs launched by the college itself for which it received recognition include a tutoring program at the nearby Harbor Lights Condominiums and a Spanish-English language exchange program.

Under the Harbor Lights program, students at Maui CC provide tutoring each week to more than 50 at-risk children who are residents of the condominium complex located adjacent to the campus.The program has been in existence for more than two years.Through the Spanish-English language exchange program, students enrolled in Spanish language courses at Maui CC offer English language tutoring to Hispanic residents who, in exchange, provide Spanish language tutoring to the students.

“In this time of economic distress, we need volunteers more than ever. College students represent an enormous pool of idealism and energy to help tackle some of our toughest challenges,” said Stephen Goldsmith, vice chair of the Board of Directors of the Corporation for National and Community Service, which oversees the Honor Roll. “We salute Maui Community College for making community service a campus priority, and thank the millions of college students who are helping to renew America through service to others.”

Recent studies have underlined the importance of service-learning and volunteering to college students. In 2006, 2.8 million college students gave more than 297 million hours of volunteer service, according to the Corporation’s Volunteering in America 2007 study.

Overall, the Corporation honored six schools with Presidential Awards. In addition, 83 were named as Honor Roll With Distinction members and 546 schools as Honor Roll members. In total, 635 schools were recognized.

(By Wendy OSHER © 2009)