CHICAGO, IL (April 4, 2013) – North Park University is one of 26 Illinois colleges and universities named to the 2013 President’s Higher Education Community Service Honor Roll, which recognizes institutions and their students, faculty and staff for improving their communities through service.

“Very few awards capture the spirit of who we are as an institution of higher education committed to contributing to the welfare of our city than the president’s honor roll,” said Anthony Zamblé, director of University Ministries. “The university recognizes that one of the ways we prepare our students for lives of significance and service is by providing opportunities for them to contribute to the welfare of Chicago. We help solve problems in our community, and we also help to cultivate a spirit of service.”

University Ministries provides logistical support for many projects and helps identify partnerships between departments working to facilitate service-related opportunities.

The 2013 president’s honor roll includes 690 colleges and universities nationwide. The Corporation for National and Community Service manages the program in collaboration with the U.S. Department of Education and the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, as well as the American Council on Education, and Campus Compact.

North Park initiatives cited as reasons for the honor included the school’s work with the North Park Friendship Center, the service of faculty and staff on various boards of local organizations, and classes offered by the Axelson Center for Nonprofit Management to teach people working in neighborhood nonprofit organizations.

Also cited was the 2012 Justice Summit hosted by North Park and the university’s “Working in the Schools” partnership with nearby Hibbard Elementary School. Through the WITS mid-day mentoring program, North Park faculty and staff volunteered to read to elementary school students each week, focusing on third-grade students for whom English is a second language.