For Second Year, St. John's is Named "with Distinction" to President's Community Service Honor Roll

For the second straight year, St. John’s University has been named “with distinction” to the President’s Higher Education Community Service Honor Roll — the highest federal honor a college or university can receive for its commitment to volunteering, service-learning and civic engagement.

St. John’s is one of only 100 academic institutions to be recognized with distinction. This is also the seventh year the University has appeared on the Honor Roll. Institutions that make the list have a strong focus on volunteering and form “compelling partnerships” that make a “measurable impact” on communities they serve.

"This honor is really a wonderful recognition of our tremendously talented students, faculty and team in the Vincentian Institute for Social Action (VISA),” said  Rev. James J. Maher, C.M., Executive Vice President for Mission and Student Services. “They continue to find creative ways to ensure that teaching, service and research — key aspects of our Catholic and Vincentian mission — remain central to a St. John’s education.”

The University established VISA to more visibly embed the Vincentian Mission in the educational experience of its students. The Institute provides an organizational focus for varied programs exploring the issues of global poverty and social injustice.

“The President’s Honor Roll provides the University with the opportunity to showcase the work of our students and faculty,” said Deanne A. Southwell, Executive Director, VISA. “We’re proud to make the Honor Roll once again — especially in this special way.”

The Honor Roll was created in 2006 by the Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS) to commend colleges and universities that support exemplary community service programs and raise visibility of best practices in campus-community partnerships. The Corporation is a federal agency that engages more than five million Americans in service through programs such as Senior Corps, AmeriCorps, the Social Innovation Fund and United We Serve.

“Congratulations to St. John’s University, its faculty and students for its commitment to service, both in and out of the classroom,” said Wendy Spencer, Chief Executive Officer, CNCS.  “This institution is helping improve local communities and creating a new generation of leaders by challenging students to go beyond the traditional college experience and solve local challenges.”

The University was honored particularly for general community service through the Advantage Academy, GEAR UP and a faculty project with St. John’s Bread and Life’s Digital Food Pantry.

The Advantage Academy is a partnership between the New York City Department of Homeless Services and the University, through VISA. The Academy enables currently and formerly homeless and at-risk New Yorkers to pursue a St. John's associate degree in business administration at no cost.

GEAR UP, at St. John’s since 1999, enables academically and/or economically disadvantaged students to graduate from middle and high school and pursue postsecondary education through a broad range of academic and social support services.

St. John’s Bread and Life soup kitchen maintains an innovative Digital Food Distribution system that uses points to educate clients on nutrition and making healthy food choices. Barrett Brenton, Ph.D., Sociology and Anthropology, partnered with St. John's Bread and Life in 2009 to analyze their Digital Choice Food Pantry (DCFP). He analyzed data from more than 3,500 DCFP clients. Based on the outcomes, a research project was created to help clients choose healthier foods.