The President’s Volunteer Service Award is a special recognition presented on behalf of President Barack Obama. The award is part of a national recognition program created in 2003 through the President’s Council on Service and Civic Participation for individuals of all ages who contribute a significant amount of time to volunteer activities.
UCF received the award through its partnership with Junior Achievement (JA), an official certifying organization for the award, which honors corporations that provide volunteers to teach JA’s educational programs. It is the third consecutive year that UCF has received this prestigious honor.
During the 2009-10 school year, more than 2,500 UCF students contributed 34,040 volunteer hours to help implement JA’s economic curriculum in local schools.
“UCF boasts the largest service learning/university partnership in the country – and serves as an example of service-learning initiatives at its best,” said Fred Kittinger, associate vice president of university relations at UCF and JACF board member. “We are honored to receive this award and have valued our partnership with the organization since 2004.”
“Volunteers – including those from UCF – are the backbone of Junior Achievement,” said Craig Polejes, president of JACF. “As role models, mentors and program facilitators, they are educating elementary and middle school students about work readiness, entrepreneurship and financial literacy, in order for them to succeed in a global economy.