USD awaits notice of national service award

If your organization has been putting in overtime doing community service, you may be about to see it pay off in a big way.

The University of South Dakota is applying to be considered for the President’s Higher Education Community Service Honor Roll. This award, launched in 2006, is given annually and attempts to recognize institutions whose students have shown remarkable dedication to their communities.

According to Karl Reasoner, coordinator for academic engagement at the university, winning the award would be a great accomplishment for the university.

“It’s a really prestigious honor — you’re recognized nationally as an institution that gives back to the community,” Reasoner said. “But also it’s just really representative of the student body and of our student organizations. They’re the ones doing all the community service and making the university look really great.”

Reasoner said USD is still working on its application.

“Basically, it’s an online application that is broken down into parts,” Reasoner said. “We fill out some basic institutional information, but mostly we collect community service data from various groups on campus. We then select three exemplary organizations for their community service efforts.”

So far, about 30 student organizations have responded to be considered for the application. Reasoner said the university is still evaluating which groups will be chosen for the application, but that previous applications included organizations such as AWOL, Dance Marathon and AmeriCorps. Some of these previous applications have won USD spots on the honor roll.

“We’ve been on the list four times,” Sarah Hirsch Wittmuss, director of academic engagement, said. “They’re looking for long-term community impact with real outcomes. Not just dollars — real change.”

Hirsch Wittmuss said she it is a good opportunity for Vermillion to show what it can do.

“Even in a small community like Vermillion, students have a really positive impact,” Hirsch Wittmuss said. “We are part of this national movement of colleges making big impacts.”

Kimberly Grieve, USD’s dean of students, said she is thrilled that USD is applying for the award.

“I’m just really excited that we could be recognized for such a great honor,” Grieve said. “And the students would be recognized for all that they do. I know that will help make community service a lifelong aspiration for many of them. Service will be part of their daily lives.”

Grieve said she has no doubts about USD’s qualifications when it comes to an award recognizing the service of students.

“We have so many students participating in community service at USD,” Grieve said. “I’m confident that we are worthy of this honor.”

The winners of the award will be notified in early February, and an official announcement ceremony will follow in early March in Washington, D.C.