President's Message
Dear Friends,
As we begin a New Year and find McKendree University in the opening days of a new semester, I think it fitting our magazine has as its focus, service.
Service is defined in many ways and includes some of the following language:
• Contribution to the welfare of others
• The act of serving
• Being helpful
• Useful labor that does not produce a tangible commodity
At McKendree we define service in all of these ways and many more. This issue of The Magazine for McKendree showcases the service provided by our students, faculty and staff assisting many who are in need of care, kindness, food, clothing, tutoring, and a
kind word or smile. The service provided to the broader community by McKendree is far-reaching.
Last year a staggering 23,623 hours of service were given by 2,231 students. A total
of 14,000 hours of service was provided by just over 600 students who are enrolled in Service
Learning courses. These unique courses include a service component to class readings, lectures
and instruction, and they are increasingly popular with our students. In addition, students
were also very active with our Lyn Huxford Center for Community Service, through programs like “Into the Streets,” which is part of our first-year orientation weekend, and a number of other programs.
McKendree is extremely proud of our repeated recognition on, and inclusion in, the President’s Higher Education Community Service Honor Roll—now five times. This recognition is given by the Corporation for National and Community Service, a federal agency
that engages more than 4 million Americans in service through Senior Corps, AmeriCorps,
and the Social Innovation Fund, and leads President Obama’s national call to service initiative,
United We Serve. This affirmation of the work we are doing is exciting, but even more exciting
will be the stories and photographs waiting for you on the pages that follow.
In a period of history when our society is often besieged with the negative things
we hear young people are doing, it is wonderful to be able to share stories of McKendree
students making a difference in our broader community and world. Each time I hear about the
remarkable contributions McKendree students, faculty and staff are making, I am inspired
by them and honored to call them friends.
Perhaps their stories will inspire you to look for ways in which you can make a difference
in the community in which you live and work in 2013.
Sincerely,
Jim Dennis
President, Office of the President
