October 30, 2006

Lyon College’s tradition of serving the community of which it’s a part has earned it a spot on the President’s Higher Education Community Service Honor Roll

According to the Corporation for National & Community Service’s website, the Community Service Honor Roll, "responds to President Bush’s call to service by building on and supporting the civic engagement mission of our nation’s colleges and universities."

Lyon College chaplain Rev. Nancy McSpadden said being added to the Honor Roll is significant for Lyon College and for its students.

"I think it indicates a commitment, in small ways and in big ways, to those in need of help," Rev. McSpadden said. "Our campus organizations, Greek system and Campus Ministries have made a concerted effort to hands-on service and fund-raising that is amazing for an institution of our size."

Not only do Lyon College campus organizations participate, but Lyon students, staff and faculty as individuals are vital and often unrecognized assets to the community of Batesville and beyond in areas of public service and charitable work, Rev. McSpadden added.

David Eisner, CEO for the Corporation for National and Community Service, said schools like Lyon College are vital to the well-being of the communities they serve.

"Institutions of higher education have a long tradition of service to their communities," he said. "When colleges organize effective community service programs, they do so not only to meet the needs of the communities that surround them, but to improve the academic and civic lives of their students, faculty and staff."

This new recognition program is designed to increase public awareness of the contributions that college students are making within their local communities and across the country through volunteer service.

The program also identifies and promotes community service model programs and practices in higher education.

"We were asked to highlight service projects and causes we had supported during the 2005-0226 academic year," Rev. McSpadden said. "We highlighted Service Day, Hogwart’s Day, the SAC and Campus Ministries’ project for Big Brothers/Big Sisters in the spring, our Thanksgiving penny drive that collected $500 for the Presbyterian Disaster Assistance program helping with hurricane relief, our efforts to secure a Habitat for Humanity affiliate, the Campus Ministry birthday parties for residents of the Cave City Nursing Home, and our federal work study student that works with the Batesville Area Arts Council."

Only two other institutions in Arkansas – Harding University in Searcy and Northwest Community College in Bentonville – were on the Honor Roll with Lyon.