COAR Wins Third Service Award

By KYLE LEFLER

The University of Mary Washington was named to the President’s Higher Education Community Service Honor Roll for the third consecutive year with the award presented to Community Outreach and Resources (COAR).

COAR is a student-run office in which students facilitate and serve in over 20 volunteer programs.

This honor is given to universities that demonstrate a commitment to relevant, meaningful service to their communities, according to the Corporation for National and Community Service’s website.

UMW joins 641 other colleges and universities in receiving this honor.

The University’s student volunteer hours totaled near 7,000 last year.

Christina Eggenberger, director of service in the Office of Community Service, said that UMW students serve because they “feel a strong sense of community with each other.”

Eggenberger believes that such community mindedness carries over to the local community as well.

Eggenberger also expressed excitement upon receiving the award.

“[The award] means that we continue to be among the best in terms of service to our community in the nation,” she said.

Emphasizing that COAR is ultimately for the benefit of the community, Eggenberger said that the award does prove that UMW “walks the walk” and that it is nice to be recognized for such.

Student Director at COAR Laura Allan was excited about the recognition that this award brings to the volunteer network at UMW.

Allan said that UMW has a “really good network of students” that volunteer with COAR.  She emphasized that “other, larger schools rely on Greek organizations and sports teams to carry out many of their service projects,” but at UMW, students seem to really get involved and take initiative independently, which allows our service program to stand out among other larger universities.

COAR operates outreach programs that serve the community on a weekly basis, as well as host Alternative Break trips and other on campus events throughout the year.  COAR will host this year’s Spring Forward Festival on the Brompton lawn on Sunday, April 1.