California State University, Stanislaus has been placed on the President’s Higher Education Community Service Honor Roll for the seventh consecutive year.
The President’s Higher Education Community Service Honor Roll, which was launched in 2006, highlights the role colleges and universities play in the community annually.
The national award honors those who have demonstrated commitment set example and inspire others to engage in volunteer service.
2013 Honor Roll recipients were announced at the American Council on Education’s 95th Annual Meeting Leading Change on March 4 in Washington, DC.
“We are very proud of the faculty and students whose efforts in the community made the award possible,” said Julie Fox, the university director of service learning.
“The hours they contribute and the outcome of their efforts are what gain us a place on the Honor Roll.”
Some of the programs that contributed to obtain the award are Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA), Criminal Justice Mentor Program and Science Day.
“The benefit of volunteering in general is the ability to help people in need and the ability to give back to the community,” Kai Kekuewa, VITA scholar said.
“The additional benefit of volunteering with the VITA program is that it provides valuable experience to accounting students by preparing tax returns and interacting with clients,” Kekuewa said.
The VITA program intended to help low income taxpayers file tax returns and get all of the refund money they are entitled to.
Most of the volunteers at the Turlock VITA clinic are accounting students at  CSU Stanislaus.
“Volunteering has changed me for the better,” Jonathan Martin, VITA Scholar said.
“I feel more confident in volunteering for other programs that can help the community thanks to my experience with service learning. The award was sort of just a bonus for me.”
The Criminal Justice Mentor Program also helped to obtain the award. Through this mentoring program, students help children who have difficulties with schoolwork, truancy and delinquency issues.
Fatima Arroyo, who has volunteered for the mentor program for four years, shared her pride in winning the award.
“I like to give a tour of the university to my protégés and they seem to enjoy it,” Fatima Arroyo, Criminal Justice Student Liaison, said.
“I feel proud that our school received this award; this means that our school has a successful program and we stand together as a community to help these youth; the leaders of the future.”
Fox acknowledged the influence students have within the community.
“We should be very, very proud of the work our students and alumni are doing in our local communities. Today’s students are tomorrow’s leaders,” Fox said.