UTC has been named to the 2013 President’s Higher Education Community Service Honor Roll with Distinction. Of the 5,000 public and private schools in the United States, only 100 were selected for this designation, the highest honor a college or university can receive for its commitment to volunteering, service-learning, and civic engagement.

“UTC has a long history of service-learning—it’s the Chattanooga way and part of our metropolitan mission to prepare our students to become active leaders in our community and beyond,” said Interim Chancellor E. Grady Bogue. “We’re honored to receive this prestigious award, and we are thankful for the work of our students who helped earn it.” 

Among the examples of student service:  those enrolled in the UTC Doctor of Physical Therapy program served as counselors at Camp Horizon, a weekend fall camping experience designed for children with disabilities to enjoy activities in the outdoors.  With supervision from a UTC faculty member and medical professionals from the Pediatric Therapy Department of the Children’s Hospital at Erlanger Medical Center, campers engaged in a wide variety of adaptive camp activities. Participants enjoyed making crafts, swimming, canoeing, archery, and horseback riding as well as a low ropes adventure course, creative movement and campfire skits and songs.

Another way students made a difference is by developing or improving existing adaptive and assistive technology to benefit the lives of children and young adults with disabilities.  UTC engineering students have worked with Signal Centers, Siskin Children’s Institute, and the school districts of lower East Tennessee to identify and projects that benefit children age three to 21 years. 

“Congratulations to UTC, its faculty and students for its commitment to service, both in and out of the classroom,” said Wendy Spencer, CEO of CNCS. 

Inspired by the thousands of college students who traveled across the country to support relief efforts along the Gulf Coast after Hurricane Katrina, CNCS has administered the award since 2006 and manages the program in collaboration with the U.S. Department of Education and the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, as well as the American Council on Education and Campus Compact. 

Read more about UTC community service efforts at www.utc.edu/ThinkAchieve/beyond/  and see the full list of Honor Roll awardees at nationalservice.gov.