News

The Corporation for National and Community Service and the U.S. Department of Education has included Martin Methodist College as one of 642 colleges and universities across the nation for its commitment to bettering communities through community service and service learning.

For the 2010-11 academic year, on which the 2012 President’s Honor Roll was based, Martin Methodist College had 514 students engaged in academic service-learning; 1,856 students who engaged in community service efforts (indicating that, within the 1,071 student enrollment, a number of students volunteered multiple times); and 21,349 total number of community service hours by the college’s students.

"I am overjoyed that Martin Methodist has received such an honorable recognition," said Brandi Belcher, coordinator for the Martin Serves program in MMC’s Cal Turner, Jr. Center for Church Leadership. "This award shows that our commitment to community outreach is not only benefiting the Giles County community and allowing our students to become well-rounded model citizens, but the extent of service has put us on the map alongside the larger service-oriented institutions in our region such as Vanderbilt, Lipscomb and Belmont universities."

It marks the second time in three years that Martin Methodist College has been named to the President’s Honor Roll.

"Through service, these institutions are creating the next generation of leaders by challenging students to tackle tough issues and create positive impacts in the community," said Robert Velasco, acting CEO of CNCS. "We applaud the Honor Roll schools, their faculty and students for their commitment to make service a priority in and out of the classroom. Together, service and learning increase civic engagement while

The President's Higher Education Community Service Honor Roll recognizes higher education institutions that reflect the values of exemplary community service and achieve meaningful outcomes in their communities. Inspired by the thousands of college students who traveled across the country to support relief efforts along the Gulf Coast after Hurricane Katrina, the initiative celebrates the transformative power and volunteer spirit that exists within the higher education community.

The Corporation for National and Community Service, which has administered the Honor Roll since 2006, admitted a total of 642 schools to colleges and universities for their impact on issues from literacy and neighborhood revitalization to supporting at-risk youth. Of that total, 513 were named to the Honor Roll, 110 received the recognition of Honor Roll with distinction, 14 were identified as finalists, and five received the Presidential Award.

The Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS) is a federal agency that engages more than five million Americans in service through its Senior Corps, AmeriCorps, and Learn and Serve America programs, and leads President Barack Obama’s national call to service initiative, United We Serve. For more information, visit www.NationalService.gov.

For more information about Martin Serves at Martin Methodist College, contact Brandi Belcher at 931-424-7363.