Westminster College has long been known for building leaders, with an equally strong tradition of producing individuals devoted to community service.
For the eighth year in a row, Westminster is one of only 113 American colleges and universities to be named to the President's Higher Education Community Service Honor Roll With Distinction.
According to a press release, this award from the Corporation for National and Community Service is "the highest federal recognition a college or university can receive for its commitment to volunteering, service-learning, civic engagement and community service."
The release went on to state that the awards committee was impressed with the school's poverty and hunger initiatives, international service and service days and trips, noting that the Westminster community had performed more than 13,000 hours of community service last year.
Bob Hansen, executive director of Westminster's Emerson Center for Leadership and Service said the school views its traditions of leadership and service to be intertwined.
"Service is part of our philosophy and campus culture. We equate leadership with service," Hansen said. "True leadership involves serving those who follow. Service and leadership to us are almost synonymous."