5/17/2012 - Judson College Named to President's Higher Education Community Service Honor Roll

By Michael J. Brooks

Photo: Two Judson College students superintended a painting project in the third-grade wing at the Albert Turner Elementary School in Marion. The project involved repainting the entire wing's hallways, with a colorful mural as a centerpiece. Pictured are (from left) Judson student Ashley Evans of  Hoover with Turner third-graders Renita, Jacquarah, Travis, and Whitney, and Judson student Amanda Nolander of Huntsville. The third grade students often sat with (and sometimes helped!) Amanda as she painted the mural, which both Amanda and Ashley name as a meaningful, memorable experience. Photo by Mary Amelia Taylor.

Judson College was named to The President's Higher Education Community Service Honor Roll 'with distinction' this spring.

Winners were announced in Los Angeles at the American Council on Education's annual meeting in March. 

The Corporation for National and Community Service reported that some 513 schools were named to this year's honor roll, and 110 received the award with distinction. A total of seven Alabama colleges were included on this year's honor roll, three of which earned the citation with distinction, including Judson.

Judson is a member school in the Women's College Coalition, which reported that 21 American women's colleges were named to this year's honor roll. Judson is one of four among the 21 who earned the award with distinction.

Judson's director of Faith-Based Service and Learning, Susan Jones, said, " We’ve believed for a long time that the Judson experience prepares students to change the world in a way that is at least comparable to, if not better than, any educational experience in the country. The significance of the Honor Roll commendation is that an outside, objective group also believes that fact."

Jones said it was gratifying to see students grow as servant-leaders. "Introducing students to needs here in Perry County, involving them as participants in projects and helping them lead their own projects is tremendously rewarding," she said. 

Jones listed several projects from 2010/11 that contributed to this year's recognition.

• Three hundred needy or elderly families received Thanksgiving food packages through Judson’s partnership with Sowing Seeds of Hope, Mountain Brook Baptist Church in Birmingham and local churches in Perry County.
• Eight hundred pairs of shoes were distributed to Perry County residents with diabetes through partnership with Sowing Seeds of Hope. 
• Teachers at Marion Academy and Albert Turner Elementary School gained access to new materials for use in teaching math, literature and social studies.
• Twenty-four high school students received guidance on preparing for college or entry into the work force through Judson’s partnership with the Alabama Poverty Project and Francis Marion High School.
• Food, clothing and personal items were provided for tornado victims across seven Alabama counties through partnership with the American Red Cross, the Hale County EMA, the Federation of Southern Cooperatives Rural Training and Resource Center and other relief organizations.

Judson senior and religious studies major Amanda Nolander of Huntsville participated in several of the projects. "Serving the Perry County community has been eye opening," Nolander said.

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