The American Humanics Student Association at California State University, Fresno received the “Outstanding Community Service Award” for the second consecutive year during the 32nd annual American Humanics Management Institute held in Kansas City, Mo., earlier this month.

The main criteria for the honor are the number of hours of community service per student and the effectiveness and impact of the service.

During the 2002-2003 academic year, Fresno State American Humanics students contributed more than 7,220 volunteer hours in the Central Valley, helping a variety of nonprofit organizations through community service projects, including individual internships, group service and individual service.

These forms of community service provide the students the opportunity to learn management and leadership skills to build and improve a nonprofit agency so that it can more effectively meet the needs of the individuals and communities served, said Dr. Matthew Jendian, assistant professor of Sociology and director of the program at Fresno State.

Jendian, 14 Fresno State students and Fresno State President John W. Welty, who is chair of the Board of Directors for the national American Humanics alliance, attended the three-day institute, which drew 800 participants from 75 colleges and universities. Jendian also served as a facilitator for a simulation/case study.

The national organization collaborates with affiliated college and university programs, professional organizations and nonprofit agencies for recruiting, preparing and placing students in meaningful professional careers with youth and human service agencies.

The interdisciplinary certificate is open to students of all majors and community individuals.

Two Fresno State students won awards at the Institute, whose theme was “Leadership for Our Changing Communities.” Roberto Vaca, a senior psychology major, was one of six students nationwide chosen for the 2005 AH Management Institute Advisory Council. Mova Verde, a Fresno State journalism alumna and current American Humanics student, was a member of one of four teams honored for outstanding plan and presentation during a simulated exercise based on a case study.

The Institute, a three-day intensive conference on the nonprofit sector, is the “capstone” experience of the American Humanics Certificate Program in Nonprofit Management and Leadership.

Jendian said the community service undertaken by American Humanics students provides them with the opportunity to learn management and leadership skills to build and improve a nonprofit agency so that it can more effectively meet the needs of the individuals and communities served.

For more information about the American Humanics program, call Jendian at 278-2891 or see http://socsci.csufresno.edu/department pages/humanics.htm

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