Hope International University Honored for Community Service

Fullerton, CA, March 30, 2012 --(PR.com)-- Hope International University has been admitted to the President’s Higher Education Community Service Honor Roll for its work in engaging its students, faculty and staff in meaningful service that achieves measurable results in the community. The Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS) and the U.S. Department of Education honored the nation’s leading colleges and universities, students, and faculty members, and staff for their commitment to bettering their communities through community service and service learning.

“Through service, these institutions are creating the next generation of leaders by challenging students to tackle tough issues and create positive impacts in the community,” said Robert Velasco, Acting CEO of CNCS. “We applaud the Honor Roll schools, their faculty and students for their commitment to make service a priority in and out of the classroom. Together, service and learning increase civic engagement while fostering social innovation among students, empowering them to solve challenges within their communities.”

The President's Higher Education Community Service Honor Roll recognizes higher education institutions that reflect the values of exemplary community service and achieve meaningful outcomes in their communities. A tradition of community service is one of Hope’s core values. More than thirty years ago, Gayla (BA '77, MA '89) and Scott (MA '89) Congdon founded a mission organization called AMOR. HIU’s longstanding partnership with AMOR continues to thrive with over 80 students, staff, and faculty traveling to Tijuana, Mexico each semester to help build homes for those in need. Hope’s men’s and women’s soccer teams continue to serve the community by putting on a soccer clinic for the students at Nicolas Junior High School in Fullerton, CA. The HIU players also help host the district tournament held at the school each year.

One of HIU’s most notable community outreaches is the annual Halloween event, Happy House, hosted by HIU and open to families in the local area. Over 200 students, staff and faculty put in over 1200 hours to create a safe environment for over 3000 children and families to enjoy Halloween. The dorms are transformed into a haunted house and trick or treating areas while other parts of the campus are outfitted with games, face painting, arts & crafts, drama performances and magic shows.

“Preparing students to participate in our democracy and providing them with opportunities to take on local and global issues in their course work are as central to the mission of education as boosting college completion and closing the achievement gap,” said Eduardo Ochoa, the U.S. Department of Education’s assistant secretary for postsecondary education. “The Honor Roll schools should be proud of their work to elevate the role of service-learning on their campuses. I hope we’ll see more and more colleges and universities following their lead.”

Hope International University is a regionally accredited Christian university founded in 1928 that integrates faith, service and learning. Through undergraduate, graduate, and online degree programs with faculty and staff dedicated to student success, our students experience a transformative educational experience and are prepared to make an impact with their lives. Our diverse student body represents over 35 states and 40 countries around the world.

To learn more, please visit the Hope International University website at http://www.hiu.edu or contact Katie Gladding, Director of Marketing, at 714.879.3901, x-2692.