Valpo named to President's honor roll for service
Valparaiso University has been named to the President’s Higher Education Community Service Honor Roll. Valpo is one of only 10 Indiana colleges on the Honor Roll.
“This is a recognition that remembers the dedicated work of students, faculty, and staff at Valpo,” said the Rev. Brian Johnson, executive director of campus ministries, who was instrumental to the application process. “And it continues to create momentum for the University and contributes to the national conversation in leadership, service, and service learning.”
Honorees are chosen based on a series of selection factors, including the breadth, depth, 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.
Highlighting Valpo’s application were three exemplary service projects:
* Hilltop House — Created in 1996 by Valpo faculty in partnership with community leaders, Hilltop Neighborhood House meets a specific community need to empower families to succeed through education, supportive services and referrals, and advocacy and collaboration. Each year, Valpo has sent 25 or more federal work-study students to work as child-care assistants at Hilltop Neighborhood House.
* Study Buddies — For the past four years, Valpo students have partnered with three local elementary schools in a tutoring and mentoring program for at-risk students. The tutors come from many different majors; some are federal work-study students, others are volunteers. The Indiana Association of Teacher Education recognized this partnership as one of the state’s outstanding education partnerships.
* A Community Partnership for Health in Rural Nicaragua — Students in Valpo’s College of Nursing have been doing significant work to improve health care in Central America. This work has focused largely around a multi-year project to address health care needs in a rural Nicaraguan village. For the students involved, this project has been steeped in international service; they develop an understanding of culturally appropriate assessments, interventions, and evaluations for diverse populations.
As a part of the Strategic Plan for Valparaiso University, Valpo has implemented several initiatives focused on enhancing the student service-learning experience.
For more information about the President’s Higher Education Community Service Honor Roll, visit www.nationalservice.gov/about/initiatives/honorroll.asp.
About Valparaiso University
Valparaiso University is a comprehensive independent Lutheran university with more than 4,000 students on its campus located in Northwest Indiana, an hour from Chicago. Valpo is a community of purpose-driven, service-minded and ethical individuals who embrace the pursuit of truth with freedom, humility and compassion. Valpo has been identified as one of the top master’s-level institutions in the Midwest by U.S. News & World Report magazine for the past 22 years. Valparaiso University offers 110 undergraduate academic programs through the colleges of Arts and Sciences, Business Administration, Engineering and Nursing. Valpo also has a distinguished honors college, a School of Law and more than 40 degree and certificate programs in its Graduate School and Continuing Education Division. Valpo has been recognized for its commitment to outstanding teaching, preparing thoughtful leaders with strong cross-cultural skills and global awareness, and dedication to serving others.