Empire College named to national community service 'honor roll'

SANTA ROSA -- Empire College has been named to the 2013 President's Higher Education Community Service Honor Roll, the second year the not-for-profit college was selected for the prestigious national award recognizing the role of volunteering in its regular curriculum.

"Empire College has a long history of service-learning and believes strongly in preparing our graduates to be active leaders and participants in an ever-changing world," said Roy Hurd, president of Empire College, in the announcement.

The college emphasized three initiatives in its 2013 application to the Corporation for National and Community Service, according to an announcement of the award. Empire's law clinic, held in partnership with the Sonoma County Superior Court and the Disabilities Services and Legal Center were cited, along with its Volunteer Income Tax Assistance program held in partnership with United Way and its health initiatives held in partnership with the Sonoma County Public Health Department's Flu Task Force.

Empire was one of 14 finalists for the highest level of the award -- Presidential Awardees. Past North Bay recipients include Dominican University of California in San Rafael.

A total of 690 institutions were named to the 2013 honor roll, with 113 receiving that recognition with distinction.

The honor roll began in 2006. It's the highest federal recognition a university can receive for its community service. Five colleges are named to the most elite level of the award.

The Corporation for National and Community Service administers the award in partnership with the U.S. Department of Education.

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