UF students recognized nationally for volunteerism

February 26, 2009

GAINESVILLE, Fla. — It’s always better to give than to receive — but receiving national recognition for giving back to the community is pretty nice, too.

Learn and Serve America, a program under the Corporation for National and Community Service, has awarded the University of Florida a spot on the 2008 President’s Higher Education Community Service Honor Roll. The honor roll recognizes schools nationwide that have significantly contributed to their communities.

The corporation is the country’s largest provider of service and volunteering grants, according to its Web site. Learn and Serve America advocates community service through service learning or volunteer work as part of a class curriculum.

This is the second year UF has received a place on the roll.

“We’re pretty excited to be part of the honor roll again,” said Tracey Reeves, the assistant dean and director for the Center for Leadership and Service.

To apply for the honor roll, UF tallied the number of students who volunteer and estimated their volunteer hours. The honor roll especially recognized UF courses that incorporate service learning. UF also highlighted three of UF’s exemplary community service programs: Florida Alternative Breaks, Project MASCOT and the Equal Access Clinic.

Florida Alternative Breaks, commonly known as FAB, sends students on service projects during school vacations.

In Project MASCOT, students mentor local elementary school children for a year. At the end of each year, they finish the program with a trip to Sea World.

In the UF College of Medicine, the student-run Equal Access Clinic provides free health care to Gainesville’s medically disadvantaged.

Reeves said programs such as these help students learn about social issues in Gainesville while meeting other service-minded students. “It enriches the classroom,” she said. “And of course, it’s important to give back to your community.”