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For more information, contact Barb Steadman - 843.857.4199

HARTSVILLE, S.C. – July 6, 2011 – Coker College has been named to the 2010 President's Community Service Honor Roll, a program administered by the Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS).

The Honor Roll recognizes selected colleges and universities for their impact on issues from literacy and neighborhood revitalization to supporting at-risk youth. The program is part of CNCS’s commitment to engage millions of college students in service and celebrate the critical role of higher education in strengthening communities.

“We salute the Honor Roll awardees for embracing their civic mission and providing opportunities for their students to tackle tough national challenges through service.” said Patrick A. Corvington, Chief Executive Officer of CNCS.

In preparing Coker’s application for the Honor Roll program, Assistant Dean and Director of Coker’s Center for Engaged Learning Darlene Small elected to highlight, among other things, student service involvement with two community organizations, the Elohim Outreach Center and the Billie Hardee Home for Boys, and Play Day, a major annual event on campus for area preschool children.

“Although campus-wide our service projects are quite varied, our impact on the community may be best reflected in our service to children,” Small explained.

“In a county where nearly a third of children live in poverty and just over a third fail to graduate from high school, students, faculty and staff continue to find innovative ways through service to help children meet academic goals and envision a better future.

“While I am proud of the many ways I see Coker College students stepping up to do what they can to serve the needs of others in the community, I am equally aware that if not for the creativity of exceptional service partners in Darlington County, our students would not have had the wonderful hands-on service-learning opportunities that they enjoyed this year,” Small said.

“In particular, we are grateful to Mary Davis of the Elohim Outreach Center and Lewis Foster with the Billie Hardee Home for the Boys who, leading by example, consistently demonstrate the value of community service.”

Coker’s involvement with the Elohim Outreach Center was coordinated by College Work Study Coordinator Mary Buchner. Psychology Professor Tracey Welborn was the faculty advisor for Coker’s internship with the Billie Hardee Home For Boys. Play Day was organized by Professor of Education Darlene Maxwell and involved the volunteer service of 14 Coker College student groups.

Coker’s Center for Engaged Learning administers internship, study abroad and community service programs that focus on enhancing the learning of each student by guaranteeing them the opportunity to participate in valuable experiential programs. Through the Center, students are made aware of and exposed to the benefits of volunteerism throughout their college career.

For more information about Coker’s Center for Engaged Learning, visit www.coker.edu/cel.html.

Learn more about community service projects that were conducted in conjunction with Coker College’s 9/11 Day of Service.

Photo Above: A celebration of childhood, Play Day served 650 area preschool children and created a visual reminder of the need for high-quality child development services for all populations.

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Coker College readies undergraduates for personal and professional success through a distinctive four-year program that emphasizes a practical application of the liberal arts as well as hands-on and discussion-based learning within and beyond the classroom. Coker is ranked among the “Best Colleges” in the South by U.S. News & World Report as well as The Princeton Review. Located in Hartsville, Coker is within two hours of the cultural, financial and recreational resources of Charlotte, Columbia, Charleston and Myrtle Beach. For more information contact Barb Steadman: 843-397-9959 or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .