By Marcela Berrios, Hannah Storm Journalism Intern

Notre Dame has once again earned “with distinction” a spot on the President’s Higher Education Community Service Honor Roll. The second annual Honor Roll recognized 528 colleges and universities nationwide that supported innovative, effective and exemplary community service and service-learning programs during the 2006-07 year. But of those schools, only 126 others joined Notre Dame on the “Honor Roll With Distinction” list, which includes Saint Mary’s College, DePauw University, Georgetown University, The Ohio State University, Michigan State University and the University of Michigan.

The 2007 Honor Roll was announced in February at the annual meeting of the American Council on Education. The honorees were selected by the Corporation for National and Community Service, the President’s Council on Service and Civic Participation, USA Freedom Corps, Campus Compact, and the U.S. Departments of Education and Housing and Urban Development. The criteria for selection included the percentage of student participation in service activities, the extent to which the institution offered academic service-learning courses, and evaluations of the scope and innovativeness of the school’s service projects.

About 80 percent of Notre Dame students are active in community service projects, and at least 10 percent of each year’s senior class plans to spend a year or more in service programs following graduation.

Notre Dame also earned “With Distinction” in the 2006 Honor Roll, as well as a special “Katrina Compassion Award” for excellence in its hurricane relief service.