The Corporation for National and Community Service recently recognized UW-Madison for its service to the U.S. community in 2008.
The organization awarded the university with placement on the President's Higher Education Community Service Honor Roll. UW-Madison was one of 546 schools that received the award.
According to university officials, the Community Service Honor Roll is the highest federal award a school can receive for civic engagement. This is UW-Madison's second time receiving the award.
UW-Madison's Morgridge Center for Public Service currently provides many opportunities for public service, service learning and community-based research programs.
We are thrilled,"" Randy Wallar, associate director of the Morgridge Center, said. ""It's a wonderful honor to be included in the membership.""
Wallar said the national service award is not just for the Morgridge Center, but is a campus-wide award, honoring all student organizations that engage in community service.
According to Wallar, there are many registered student organizations with strong service components including Habitat for Humanity and Engineers Without Borders.
Aaron Brower, vice provost for teaching and learning, said more UW-Madison graduates enter the Peace Corps and Teach For America than any other university in the country.
""A large part of that is due to the fact that there are connections between service, and scholarship is woven into the very fabric of students' experience at UW-Madison; it defines the unique Wisconsin Experience that we offer students,"" Brower said.
The President's Higher Education Community Service Honor Roll, created in 2006, acknowledges institutions with highly committed volunteering programs, service learning and civic engagements.
According to University Communications, The Corporation for National and Community distinguishes schools based on its student participation percentage in service programs, innovation of the service projects and the extent of service-learning courses.
""I feel very proud that UW-Madison has been recognized by this national honor,"" Brower said. ""The Morgridge Center has done a fantastic job to cultivate new opportunities as well as faculty, staff and students who participate in them.
