Creighton is recognized for its service to others by appearing on the President’s Honor Roll Award for Service. Students may be aware that Creighton has received this honor, but they may not know the process behind it or the implications it has for Creighton.

The Honor Roll is granted to institutions whose service is regarded as substantial, meaningful and relevant, and have measurable impacts on the community. It was first introduced in 2006 by the Corporation for National and Community Service and it annually highlights the role colleges and universities play in solving community problems and placing more students on lifelong path of civic engagement by recognizing the institutions that achieve meaningful and measurable income in the communities they serve.

Creighton has appeared on the Honor Roll since its inception and in 2007 was named to the Honor Roll with Distinction.

Colleges who are eligible for the Honor Roll all have to be accredited, degree-granting colleges and universities. Creighton University is one of the 690 schools that are recognized by the Honor Roll.

Each year schools must reapply for the program and that is where Mary Ann Danielson comes in. Danielson, a faculty member in the Department of Communication Studies, has been responsible for that application process for the past years. This process involves giving institutional information in the Institutional Commitment to Service Statement. The Honor Roll focuses on three different project descriptions and student service estimations.

For Creighton, the three projects that are focused on for the Honor Roll are the Magis Clinic, the Cortina Community and the Heart Ministry Center. Danielson stated that in the past the CCSJ Fall and Spring Break Service Trips were featured as well as ILAC.

Danielson has been gathering information about Creighton’s service and sending in the applications for all six years. She says she annually sends out requests about the hours of service done in association with Creighton.

This year Creighton students engaged in 389,252 hours of community service and 1914 students were engaged in at least 20 hours per term.

One was the Creighton’s Center for Service and Justice, which has students participating at six different service sites and plans Fall and Spring service trips. CCSJ assistant director Jeff Peak believes that Creighton’s position on the Honor Roll is good, as long as students remember why they serve.

“We shouldn’t do something just to be recognized but service is such a great part of the Jesuit education and it should be recognized,” Peak said.

Why then should Creighton strive to be on the Honor Roll, if it is already dedicated to service?

Danielson said that one of the good parts of appearing on the Honor Roll is the way that it presents Creighton to the community. She says that last year Creighton appeared on the Washington Monthly’s master university rankings, which ranks schools based on their contributions to public good. This will encourage good publicity for Creighton as well as possible higher future attendance.

Danielson also said she believes that, in the end, its important for both Creighton and its students to be recognized for the service they have done.

“In a age where anyone can get any information its important the way we report the information and how we present our story because I think we have a great story to tell surrounding our students and their service,” Danielson said.