Holy Cross Named to “Honor Roll” for Community Service

The College of the Holy Cross is one of a number of colleges nationwide named to the 2006 President’s Higher Education Community Service Honor Roll.

More than 500 applications from the nation’s colleges and universities were received for the Honor Roll in its inaugural year.  Schools listed on the Honor Roll have instituted service programs that are “meaningful, relevant, and exemplary.”

Community service has long been a hallmark of life at Holy Cross.  In recent years, the College has established new institutional initiatives in Worcester, the Gulf Coast region to support hurricane relief efforts, and other countries of the world.  More than 2,300 Holy Cross students (83% of the student body) participated in a wide array of community service activities in the most recent academic year.

“Community service at Holy Cross continues to grow in depth and breadth across the College, in its programs and its curriculum,” said William Meinhofer, director of the Donelan Office of Community-Based Learning, and author of the College’s application for the award.  “Our innovative academic-based community learning and research projects, for example, match faculty and students together with local agencies to solve problems and seek answers.  This brings service closer to the heart of our educational mission; it integrates academic excellence with our emphasis on ‘men and women for others.’”

In addition to the Donelan Office of Community-Based Learning, Meinhofer cited several exemplary service programs at Holy Cross:

• Student Programs for Urban Development (SPUD) • Nativity School of Worcester • South Worcester Development Partnership • Federal Work Study and College Funded Community Service Internships

Meinhofer also called for special attention for the Athletic Department’s work.  Nearly every team at Holy Cross has one or several community projects, and an estimated 587 student-athletes participate in service programs.

Nineteen Massachusetts colleges were named to the new Honor Roll, including Holy Cross and Clark University in Worcester.  Jesuit institutions across the country also received recognition.  Georgetown, Loyola University New Orleans, St. Joseph’s University, Santa Clara University, and University of San Francisco all received awards with distinction.  Other Jesuit institutions recognized included Creighton University, Fairfield University, Loyola College in Maryland, Loyola University Chicago, Saint Louis University, Saint Peter's College, and Seattle University.

The President’s Higher Education Community Service Honor Roll is presented in concert with Campus Compact and sponsored by the Corporation for National and Community Service, the President’s Council on Service and Civic Participation, the USA Freedom Corps, and the U.S. Departments of Education and Housing and Urban Development.   The recognition program was created to increase public awareness of the contributions that college students are making within their local communities and across the country through volunteer service.