The national office of Campus Compact and The Jenzabar Foundation recently announced the awarding of three grants that will create “Best in Class” Student Service Leadership Conferences in 2010 to promote civic engagement and inspire future generations to make a difference.
The winners include a collaboration of New England Campus Compacts in Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island and Vermont; Minnesota Campus Compact; and North Carolina Campus Compact.
With the grant it received, North Carolina Campus Compact will host two conferences for college students in North Carolina, Virginia, and South Carolina. Conferences will be Oct. 30 at N.C. Wesleyan College in Rocky Mount, and Nov. 6 at Johnson C. Smith University in Charlotte.
“This expansion of our student conference presents an opportunity to connect civically-minded students from across three states,” said Lisa Keyne, executive director of North Carolina Campus Compact. “Participants will leave the conferences inspired and better-equipped for meaningful service in their local communities.”
Since 1992, North Carolina college students have gathered yearly to network and grow in understanding the contributions they can make in their communities. Highlights of the daylong conferences have been student-led workshops, awarding a Community Impact Student Award to a student from each member campus, a hands-on service event, and networking with civically engaged students from across the state.
The “Best in Class” grant allows for innovation at the yearly conference that will expand service to local agencies, build greater student connections, and increase student presentations of best practices. A 20-person Student Advisory Board will help plan the 2010 conferences.
Since it was founded in 2002, North Carolina Campus Compact has hosted the yearly student conference.
A coalition of 44 college and university presidents collaborating to increase campus-wide participation in community and public service, the state office is located at Elon University. Presidents of community and independent colleges, as well as UNC chancellors, commit their institutions to join with others in becoming “engaged campuses” that enhance a student’s sense of responsibility, citizenship, leadership and awareness of community, while improving the quality of life in North Carolina.
Campus Compact is a national coalition of more than 1,100 college and university presidents, representing some 6 million students, dedicated to promoting community service, civic engagement, and service-learning in higher education. As a public charity, The Jenzabar Foundation funds the good works and humanitarian efforts of student leaders serving others across the global community.
Through their partnership, they are helping students involved in service reach their highest potential, and make the greatest impact on their beneficiaries during their collegiate experience.