TTU named to national service honor roll
klykins@tntech.edu
Office of Communications & Marketing
Thousands of Tennessee Tech University students commit to service along with studying and socializing to make their college experience complete.
And for the second year in a row, The Corporation for National Community Service has named Tennessee Tech a member of the President’s Higher Education Community Service Honor Roll for exemplary service efforts to local communities. This honor is the highest federal recognition a school can achieve for its commitment to service-learning and civic engagement.
“The Tech family realizes we are part of a larger community that often needs our time and talents, and our students, faculty, staff and administrators have always had a tradition of serving others,” TTU President Bob Bell said.
TTU’s University Service Center recorded that almost 2,200 students engaged in community service or academic service learning in the 2008-09 academic year. Those students logged almost 14,000 hours in volunteer work.
Students, as well as faculty and staff, rallied to make TTU’s campus Habitat for Humanity build the largest project in terms of participants and service hours. About 400 campus community members constructed a home in 20 days. Several service learning projects correlated to the build. For example, engineering students looked at house plans to formulate a building guide and modify houses to be more environmentally friendly.
Students dedicated more than 600 hours to two projects benefitting the Cookeville Rescue Mission. Students improved the CRM thrift store layout as a work-training environment and developed a sustainable plan for obtaining work clothes for residents.
Service didn’t stop in the summer. “Get Back with Tech” encouraged students and alums from the local area to team up on community projects while school was out. Projects included river cleanup, landscaping for a non-profit, tourism surveys, and computer and resume training.
As an alternative spring break, students and faculty members worked at the Brighter Paths Children’s Home for Boys to design and paint rooms, while also mentoring.
“We appreciate the repeat recognition because it is another affirmation that we are reaching our potential as a caring campus,” said Theresa Ennis, TTU’s University Service Center director during the academic award year.
“Students are gaining critical thinking skills through active participation in real-world situations, enhancing interpersonal skills, and developing civic responsibility through active community involvement,” said Ennis. “I believe it is so important that our students are exposed to community service activities and take on these responsibilities to make a difference in the lives of those in need. “
The National Research Council identifies service learning as one of the most effective strategies for improving student engagement and academic learning. Research has demonstrated that high quality service learning strengthens academic achievement, school attendance, and classroom engagement; connects students to their communities; and reduces risky behaviors.
The corporation recognized more than 700 colleges and universities for their impact on issues from poverty and homelessness to environmental justice.
“Congratulations to the awardees and students for their dedication to service and commitment to improving their local communities,” said Patrick Corvington, the corporation's CEO. “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.”
College students make a significant contribution to the volunteer sector; in 2009, 3.16 million students performed more than 300 million hours of service.
The corporation is a federal agency that engages more than five million Americans in service through its Senior Corps, AmeriCorps, and Learn and Serve America programs, and leads President Obama's national call to service initiative, United We Serve. For more information, visit NationalService.gov.
