Jersey City, N.J. – December 12, 2014 – Saint Peter’s University today announced that it has been named to the 2014 President’s Higher Education Honor Roll by the Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS) in all four eligibility categories. The categories include Community Service, Interfaith Community Service, Economic Opportunity and Education. The President’s Higher Education Community Service Honor Roll was launched in 2006 and annually highlights the role colleges and universities play in solving community problems and how these initiatives can ultimately motivate students to pursue a lifelong path of civic engagement. Saint Peter’s was the only higher education institution in New Jersey to be recognized in all four of the categories.
“A commitment to community service comes as second nature to many members of the Saint Peter’s community, but this recognition is a great indicator of the impact these efforts have on the surrounding community and our students themselves,” said Eugene J. Cornacchia, Ph.D., president of Saint Peter’s University. “We take a great deal of pride in this honor and the fact that we are leading the way in the state of New Jersey speaks to the tireless commitment of our Office of Campus Ministry and the entire community. We are proud to be included among this esteemed group of colleges and universities on the President’s Higher Education Honor Roll.”
Institutions that achieve recognition in the category of Community Service are those that demonstrate a commitment to improving the quality of life of off-campus community residents, particularly low-income individuals. The Economic Opportunity category recognizes programs that build economic independence, increase family stability and create more sustainable and resilient communities. Institutions that are honored in the category of education demonstrate a commitment to improving education outcomes for children and youth in pre-kindergarten through undergraduate education. Institutions recognized in the category of Interfaith Community Service are those that demonstrate a dedication to engaging students, faculty and staff of diverse faiths to join forces to tackle community challenges.
“Service and higher education go hand in hand,” said Wendy Spencer, CEO of the Corporation for National and Community Service. “These schools are inspiring young leaders to roll up their sleeves and work alongside community members to solve problems. By recognizing the institutions who are leading the way to achieve meaningful, measurable results for the communities they serve, we also highlight the vital role all colleges and universities play in addressing community challenges and placing more students on a lifelong path of civic engagement.”
Saint Peter’s students contribute to the community in a variety of ways. Each year, more than 800 students contribute a combined total of approximately 16,000 hours of service to local, national and global organizations. Organizations include the Junkyard Dogs, a group of students and community members who regularly meet to collect litter around the local community, and the Arrupe Volunteers, a group of faculty, staff and administrators from the University who gather to share a service opportunity and reflect on the experience. Students also have collected nearly 800 pounds of food annually for local hunger prevention and volunteer their time at area food banks.
Students majoring in health and physical education are actively involved in the Healthing Along Program, which is supported by the Horizon Foundation for N.J. The program that provides local K through 12 students with health education. Saint Peter’s students engaged in the program regularly participate in health fairs in the community, visit foster homes to provide healthy cooking tips, volunteer for Read Across America and more.
Most recently, the University celebrated the opening of its Campus Kitchen, a student-led community service project that provides free, healthy meals to local residents by using donated food that would otherwise go to waste. The Campus Kitchen has already served 2,400 meals since it opened in September. The University also runs the Saint Peter’s University Clothes and Food Pantry and the Emmaus Project, a weekly service program that provides bagged lunches, toiletries, clothes, coats and blankets to those in need.
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Saint Peter’s University, inspired by its Jesuit, Catholic identity, commitment to individual attention and grounding in the liberal arts, educates a diverse community of learners in undergraduate, graduate, doctoral and professional programs to excel intellectually, lead ethically, serve compassionately and promote justice in our ever-changing urban and global environment. To learn more, please visit www.saintpeters.edu.
Media Contact
Angeline Boyer
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