Awards for Community Engagement and Service
The Center for Community Engagement is committed to recognizing all of the good work taking place on UMW’s campus as part of volunteer programs, service initiatives and community-engaged classes, among other projects. We offer the following programs:
Community Service Hours:
UMW awards service hours to students to recognize the important work they do giving their time and talent to support positive causes on and off campus. Service hours can be earned by participating in a club or COAR sponsored activity and getting “swiped in” to an event. For example, if you attend the COAR Gift Box Wrapping Party and get swiped in, you will receive 2 service hours recorded in MyUMW. In addition, if the service performed is off-campus or with an off-campus group, or a student is not swiped into an event, or with a class, a student can “Apply for An Opportunity” using an online form in MyUMW. Documentation may be required. The application will be reviewed and if it meets the criteria, it will be approved, and service hours will be awarded.
For service hours on campus as part of a UMW program, like Class Council, we may need to have information or documentation from the UMW program regarding the nature of the volunteer or service work. The activities need to directly benefit the UMW community. In addition, a student can’t be financially compensated for doing the service.
Community Service Cord:
To be eligible to receive the Community Service graduation cord, a student must complete at least 30 hours of community service while enrolled as a full-time or part-time student. The 30 hours of community service can be broken up and earned among various projects and events on and off campus, as long as the activities are approved by the Center for Community Engagement. Service hours earned in community-engaged classes count towards the Community Service cord. Students who are swiped into events on campus get service hours awarded in MyUMW, but you can also report your service hours using an online form. To apply for the Community Service cord for graduation, complete the Service Cord application form. If possible, please upload documentation (or refer to your service hours in MyUMW, which are logged when you participate in on-campus service activities). Once we approve your application, we will put your name on a list that we will share with the bookstore. You will be able to purchase your cords at the UMW Bookstore. Questions? Email Kasey Morello at kmorello@umw.edu.
Adding Service Hours
If you would like to report additional service hours, or add them to your profile in MyUMW, please use the “Apply for An Opportunity” online form in MyUMW. You can list all your hours in one application. The application will be reviewed and if it meets the criteria, it will be approved, and service hours will be awarded in MyUMW and added to your co-curricular transcript.
Eagle Awards:
Each year, the Student Activities and Engagement (SAE) office holds the Eagle Awards ceremony to recognize outstanding student leaders on campus. There are many awards that recognized leaders in service activities on campus.
- Leader in Service: This award recognizes an underclassman who has demonstrated exceptional commitment to community service, either locally, regionally, nationally, or globally. The student must have demonstrated outstanding initiative in planning, organizing, and executing community service activities, while also demonstrating the ability to cooperate with other organizations, either on or off campus
- Clara Boyd Wheeler Award: This is awarded to a graduating senior who exemplifies grace, a spirit of service and the ability to change lives.
- Elizabeth M. Baumgarten Leadership Award: Elizabeth “Liz” Baumgarten Heagy was committed to service as a student here at UMW and helped found Community Outreach and Resources (COAR). This is award is given to a senior for outstanding service to the university and community.
- Outstanding Community Service: This award recognizes an organization’s involvement in a community service activity that positively impacts the targeted community. The specific program may be held on or off campus and should relate to the organization’s mission. It is preferred that the activity had a notable impact on the organization and its members that continued throughout the year. This award is open to all clubs and organizations including sports clubs.
- Outstanding Philanthropy Program: This award recognizes an organization’s involvement in philanthropic activity or event that positively affects a targeted cause either locally or globally. The specific program may be held on or off campus and should relate to the organization’s mission. It is preferred that the activity had a notable impact on the organization and its members that continued throughout the year.
Visit the SAE awards page and don’t forget to nominate someone in March!