Oklahoma City – Oklahoma
Christian University has been named to the 2009 President’s Higher Education
Community Service Honor Roll, the highest federal recognition a college or
university can receive for its commitment to volunteering, service-learning and
civic engagement.
"Congratulations to Oklahoma
Christian University and its students for their dedication to service and
commitment to improving their local communities,” said Patrick Corvington, CEO
of the Corporation for National and Community Service. "Our nation’s students
are a critical part of the equation and vital to our efforts to tackle the most
persistent challenges we face. They have achieved impactful results and
demonstrated the value of putting knowledge into practice to help renew
America through service.”
"We are very excited to
be named to the President’s Higher Education Community Service Honor Roll and
receive national recognition for the outstanding contributions our students
make to the local community,” said OC president, Mike O’Neal. "Our students
have always devoted a considerable amount of their time to bettering the local
community and the world.”
Oklahoma Christian was cited
for a number of community service programs, including its students’ work with
Western Village Elementary in north Oklahoma City. The OC students mentor and
serve as role models for the Western Village students. The mentors help the
students develop self esteem, overcome negative behaviors and improve classroom
participation and academic success. Western Village students have seen their
test scores rise dramatically over the past five years, almost doubling in some
areas. In 2009, OC students conducted the 10th annual "Kite Day,”
where Western Village students made a field trip to OC for a fun day of flying
kites and eating lunch with OC students. Other programs cited included work
with local government for cleanup projects, nursing students conducting health
fairs, 350 students participating in "Day in the City” to clean up distressed
areas of Oklahoma City, volunteering Habitat for Humanity, T-Ball and soccer
for children with disabilities, Special Olympics, and others.
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