The President\u2019s 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\u2019s Council on Service and Civic Participation for individuals of all ages who contribute a significant amount of time to volunteer activities.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
During the 2009-10 school year, more than 2,500 UCF students contributed 34,040 volunteer hours to help implement JA\u2019s economic curriculum in local schools.<\/p>\n
\u201cUCF boasts the largest service learning\/university partnership in the country \u2013 and serves as an example of service-learning initiatives at its best,\u201d said Fred Kittinger, associate vice president of university relations at UCF and JACF board member. \u201cWe are honored to receive this award and have valued our partnership with the organization since 2004.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cVolunteers \u2013 including those from UCF \u2013 are the backbone of Junior Achievement,\u201d said Craig Polejes, president of JACF. \u201cAs 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.<\/p>\n