The Corporation for National and Community Service announced Monday that Georgia Military College Columbus has been named to the 2014 President’s Higher Education Community Service Honor Roll in the General Community Service Category.

Each year, the President of the United States recognizes higher education institutions that reflect the values of exemplary community service and achieve meaningful, measurable outcomes in communities through service. 

The 2014 President’s Higher Education Community Service Honor Roll highlights the role colleges and universities play in solving community challenges and as a result, more students are likely to pursue a lifelong path of civic engagement that achieves meaningful and measurable outcomes in the communities they serve.

“Service and higher education go hand in hand,” said Wendy Spencer, CEO of the Corporation for National and Community Service. “These schools are inspiring young leaders to roll up their sleeves and work alongside community members to solve problems. By recognizing the institutions who are leading the way to achieve meaningful, measurable results for the communities they serve, we also highlight the vital role all colleges and universities play in addressing community challenges and placing more students on a lifelong path of civic engagement.”

GMC Columbus was selected for the award because of its dedication to the holistic development of the intellect, character, and ethics of our students, which is facilitated by a focus on service learning and community involvement. GMC Columbus honors students who demonstrate exceptional dedication to civic engagement and service by awarding them the Distinguished Order of the Servant Leader Award. Additionally, GMC Columbus is credentialed to award Presidential Service Awards on behalf of the Corporation for National and Community Service. The projects that helped GMC Columbus achieve the award were blood drives, hosted quarterly on campus, service drives, including a food drive and clothing drive, and several service projects completed by the Student Ambassador team.  

According to GMC Columbus Library Associate Bailey Carter of Columbus, “we are thrilled to be acknowledged for our efforts and those of our amazing student body, but we are even more thrilled to be able to help the community that helps support our school.” Carter stated, “we believe outreach opportunities benefit our community not only by providing essential items, such as food, clothing, and blood, but also by providing the hope that comes with knowing someone is trying to help.” Carter added that “reaching out to our community as an institution and encouraging students to do likewise as individuals provides hands-on experience and character development skills that will last a lifetime.”