Produced by: Marketing and Communications
November 11, 2016
“I really didn’t know what to expect,” said Dylan Hornik ’17CPS of his first service activity at St. John’s University. “Everyone in my class was supposed to select from a list of volunteer opportunities. I chose to assist a non-native speaker with her English.”
For the 20-year-old journalism major, the experience became one of self-discovery. He spent several hours a week tutoring a student from China. “It felt great,” said Dylan. “Just using what I know, I actually made a difference in someone’s life by helping her to strengthen her language skills.”
Students often say their fondest memories involve the varied volunteer activities that are part of life and learning at St. John’s. Recognizing this, the US government has named the University to its 2015 President's Higher Education Community Service Honor Roll. St. John’s has made the list every year since 2008.
The Honor Roll celebrates higher education institutions that support outstanding community service programs while creating strong partnerships with neighborhood-based efforts to assist those in need.
A Mission that Changes Lives
“We are honored to once again be recognized by the President’s Honor Roll,” said Deanne A. Southwell, Ed.D., Executive Director of the University’s Vincentian Institute for Social Action. “As a Catholic and Vincentian institution, St. John’s is committed to addressing the needs of the poor and marginalized.”
This year, the University was featured in three Honor Roll categories—General Community Service (with distinction), Economic Opportunity, and Education.
The Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS) launched the award in 2006 in collaboration with the US Departments of Education and Housing and Urban Development, in addition to the American Council on Education, Campus Compact, and the Interfaith Youth Core.
CNCS cited St. John’s for its “exemplary community service programs” and its efforts to “raise the visibility of effective practices in campus community partnerships.”
Committed to Helping Others
Academic Service-Learning, the Ozanam Scholars Program, and Campus Ministry received high marks from the organization, earning St. John’s “with distinction” honors in the General Community Service segment.
St. John’s focus on helping the poor and marginalized— through programs such as the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance program and the Advantage Academy—was instrumental in its inclusion in the Economic Community Service category of the honor roll.
The University’s participation in prominent national programs like Jumpstart and America Reads * America Serves, and its own GEAR UP initiative earned it a place in the Education category.
The Honor Roll's Presidential Award is the highest federal recognition a college or university can receive for its commitment to community, service-learning, and civic engagement. “This acknowledgement reflects our dedication to our mission,” Southwell said, “and the impact our students continue to have on the community.”