This week, President Obama's Higher Education Community Service Honor Roll named Wheelock College its Presidential Award Winner in the Education Category. The award is the highest federal recognition a college or university can receive for its commitment to volunteering, service-learning and civic engagement. Additionally, Wheelock has been selected as one of only fourteen finalists in the general community service category. 

"To be named the Presidential Award Winner in the Education category is a testament to the extraordinary dedication of our students to our social justice mission," said Wheelock College President Jackie Jenkins-Scott. “Service is woven into Wheelock’s institutional and educational fabric. Our entire campus—from students, faculty, staff and alumni—strives to inspire a world of good through unique, innovative and passionate service. We thank our wonderful community partners for their willingness and enthusiasm in supporting our mission and our students.”

Launched in 2006, the Community Service Honor Roll highlights the role colleges and universities play in solving community challenges and as a result, in encouraging more students to pursue a lifelong path of civic engagement that achieves meaningful and measurable outcomes in the communities they serve. Honorees for the award were chosen based on a series of selection factors, including scope and innovation of service projects, percentage of student participation in service activities, incentives for service and the extent to which the school offers academic service-learning courses. This is the fourth consecutive year that Wheelock has been recognized by the Corporation for National and Community Service for achievements in community service with a place on the Honor Roll.

In its application to the Honor Roll, Wheelock highlighted three unique and innovative programs:

• The Mattahunt Wheelock Partnership: Since 2010, Wheelock has partnered with the Mattahunt Community Center, located in one of the most underserved areas of Boston— the Mattapan neighborhood. The Mattahunt Wheelock Partnership serves as catalyst for successful, replicable public private partnerships in urban communities.
• Presidential International Service Learning Program: In 2012-2013, 55 students provided more than 1,478 service hours during International Service Learning trips to South Africa, West Africa, Northern Ireland, Belize, Haiti, Germany, and Barbados. Articulated service learning goals link course objectives with the on-site engagement.
• Ubuntu Arts: Housed in the Undergraduate program of Juvenile Justice and Youth Advocacy at Wheelock since 2006, Ubuntu Arts brings together youth groups, college students, and adult mentors to collaborate on art-making projects that give voice to social and personal issues of concern to area youth.

Please join us in sending congratulations and best wishes to our LMA neighbor Wheelock College!

*Content courtesy of Wheelock Communications Office.