California State University, Fresno has been named to the 2009 President’s Higher Education Community Service Honor Roll with Distinction, the highest federal recognition a college or university can receive for its commitment to volunteering, service-learning and civic engagement.

This is the third consecutive year the university has received this national recognition.

Fresno State was among 16 colleges and universities in California on the Honor Roll with Distinction. The Corporation for National and Community Service recognized 115 schools across the country.

Last year, Fresno State was among the top three Presidential honorees. In 2008, Fresno State won a Special Achievement Award.

“I applaud the volunteer work of our students, faculty and staff that has allowed the university to gain this national recognition for the third-straight year,” said Fresno State President John D. Welty.

“The generous service of our university community has had positive impact on our region, while allowing our students to gain personal, professional and academic experience. That means we are helping create a better community through service and learning,” Welty said.

The Jan and Bud Richter Center for Community Engagement and Service Learning at Fresno State coordinates the volunteer service of students, faculty and staff.

Director Chris Fiorentio said that in 2008-09, more than 13,000 students, staff and faculty logged 923,565 hours of service. The local economic impact of that volunteerism is estimated at $22 million, based on national philanthropic standards.

The university’s nomination featured examples of Fresno State’s 191 academic service-learning classes, the Community Service Scholarship Program, and Jumpstart Fresno, which provides tutorial services to area preschool children. Students participate in programs such as Fresno READS, blood drives, Serving Fresno days, alternative spring break, Bulldog Pantry and Earth Day.

The Corporation for National and Community Service cited more than 700 colleges and universities for their 2009 impact on issues from poverty and homelessness to environmental justice.

“Congratulations to Fresno State and its students for their dedication to service and commitment to improving their local communities,” said Patrick Corvington, CEO of the Corporation for National and Community Service. “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.”

The corporation oversees the Honor Roll in collaboration with the Department of Education, Department of Housing and Urban Development, Campus Compact, and the American Council on Education. Honorees are chosen for the scope and innovation of service projects, percentage of student participation in service activities, incentives for service and academic service-learning opportunities.

For more information, contact Fresno State’s Richter Center for Community Engagement and Service-Learning at 559.278.7079 or http://www.csufresno.edu/cesl.

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