Lt. Gov. Skillman to Join IUPUI Celebration of Presidential Community Service Award

INDIANAPOLIS – Indiana Lt. Gov. Becky Skillman on Thursday (Nov. 30) will join Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis Chancellor Charles A. Bantz and IUPUI faculty, staff, students and community supporters as the university celebrates being named to the first President’s Higher Education Community Service Honor Roll.

The celebration will take place in the north atrium of the Indiana State House from 4 to 5:30 p.m., with a program beginning at 4:30 p.m.

IUPUI is one of three universities named this fall as winners of the Community Service Honor Roll Award for Excellence in General Community Service. The award recognizes IUPUI for its commitment to community service in a number of ways, including service learning courses; the federal Work Study program; the Sam H. Jones Community Service Scholarship; partnerships with area government agencies, companies and nonprofit organizations; and the four organized relief trips to assist victims of hurricane Katrina.

“Our community tells us they appreciate IUPUI’s commitment to civic engagement. This award tells us that the president of the United States recognizes that commitment. My thanks to the thousands of students, staff and faculty who have earned that recognition,” said Chancellor Bantz.

Speakers during Thursday’s event will include:

• Hayward Guenard, an IUPUI staff member, will describe the Katrina relief work that 84 IUPUI staff and students performed during trips to the towns of Waveland, Bay St. Louis, Pass Christian and North Bay, Mississippi.
• NiCole Keith, a faculty member from the School of Physical Education and Tourism Management, will talk about the Fit for Life program which places students at area schools to act as strength and conditioning coaches and personal trainers for athletes.
• Emily Reid from College Mentors for Kids will reflect on the value of student involvement in children’s lives.
• Lygia Vernon, a Sam H. Jones Community Service Scholar, will talk about the impact that Alternative Break Service trips have had on her learning and future career path.

More than 500 colleges applied for the Honor Roll in its inaugural year. The prestigious Honor Roll recognition included a $5,000 monetary award to support further community service.

During Thursday’s celebration, Robert Bringle, the director of IUPUI’s Center for Service and Learning, will announce that these funds will be given to two IUPUI initiatives – $2,500 to the Alternative Breaks Service Organization to support another student trip to Katrina-damaged areas; and $2,500 to College Mentors for Kids to support their program of providing one-on-one relationships between college and elementary school-aged students.

Stephen Goldsmith, chairman of the board of directors of the Corporation for National and Community Service and former mayor of the City of Indianapolis, presented the award to IUPUI officials during a ceremony on Oct. 17 in Chicago.