Presidential Recognition Given to Stanbridge College Community Service for Fourth Consecutive Year

IRVINE, CA--(Marketwired - Aug 6, 2013) - Stanbridge College, a technical college that offers Masters, Bachelor and Associate of Science degrees and diploma programs in Allied Health and Information Technology, was admitted to the President's Higher Education Community Service Honor Roll by the Corporation for National and Community Service. This award is the highest federal recognition a college or university can receive for its commitment to volunteering, service-learning, and civic engagement and honors the college for its long term community partnerships and positive impact on its local and global community in 2012.

The President's Higher Education Community Service Honor Roll recognizes higher education institutions that reflect the values of exemplary community service and achieve meaningful outcomes in their communities. Last year, the Stanbridge College REACH - Beyond the Classroom™ Service Learning and Civic Engagement initiative volunteered over 2,958 man hours and donated funds, food, and supplies in 55 community service events to support the needy in Orange County and around the world.

"Congratulations to Stanbridge College, its faculty and students for its commitment to service, both in and out of the classroom," said Wendy Spencer, CEO of CNCS. "Through its work, institutions of higher education are helping improve their local communities and create a new generation of leaders by challenging students to go beyond the traditional college experience and solve local challenges."

President of Stanbridge College, Yasith Weerasuriya stated, "We are very pleased that the hard work of our students, staff, and faculty has been recognized for the fourth consecutive year by the Corporation for National and Community Service. While our time and donations are all vital elements to support those in need, it is the hope that stems from these efforts that is the most important impact on our local and global community. The Stanbridge REACH community looks forward to continuing our service efforts to shape a connected and compassionate student body."

One of the major projects lead by Stanbridge College REACH is helping the needy. Every month, REACH volunteers prepare and serve meals to over 250 homeless and low-income families.

Nursing student and REACH Volunteer, Vanessa Gonzalez-Arroyo recalled her time serving and volunteering. "Before attending Stanbridge College, I had heard from friends of all the wonderful events it has hosted and been part of. One of them was helping the less fortunate. The feeling you get from preparing and helping serve the dinner is just amazing, it gave me such a great feeling of gratitude for everything I've overcome and where I now stand in life."

In the past year, students, staff, and faculty focused on specific areas of need in the Orange County community:

• Homelessness and Hunger: Stanbridge College REACH volunteered over 900 man hours to serve over 6,000 meals to the homeless. Over 3,760 items including clothing, shoes, bus passes, school supplies, sleeping bags, and cans of food were donated to help the homeless and hungry in Orange County.
• Health: Stanbridge College students helped assist over 1,000 lives at free medical and dental health fairs to support those without access to health services in Orange County. Nursing students also volunteered with the County of Orange administering flu shots at public health fairs, Our Lady of Guadalupe Senior Residence helping senior citizens monitor blood pressure, and the Disaster Readiness Training events hosted by the Orange County Medical Reserve Corps.
• Veterans and Military Families: Stanbridge College REACH raised funds and donated over 1,400 items in 100 care packages to US Marines who were currently serving overseas in Afghanistan and other areas.

Throughout the year, Stanbridge College REACH worked with non-profits including the Free Pantry Organization, the County of Orange, Veterans First Orange County, American Red Cross, Words of Comfort, Hope and Promise, Second Harvest Food Bank of Orange County, Southern California Special Olympics, and Irvine Animal Care Center.

To learn more about Stanbridge College REACH, please visit www.stanbridge.edu.

The Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS) is a federal agency that engages more than five million Americans in service through its Senior Corps, AmeriCorps, and Learn and Serve America programs, and leads President Barack Obama's national call to service initiative, United We Serve. For more information, visit NationalService.gov.

About Stanbridge College
Based in Irvine, CA, Stanbridge College is a co-educational, technical college with an annual enrollment of over 950 students. Founded in 1996, Stanbridge is nationally accredited by the Accrediting Commission of Career Schools and Colleges (ACCSC). Stanbridge College offers Master, Bachelor and Associate of Science degrees and diploma programs in Allied Health and Information Technology.

Stanbridge has been named to the 2009 - 2013 President's Higher Education Community Service Honor Roll, the highest federal recognition a college or university can receive for its commitment to volunteering, service-learning and civic engagement. In 2009 - 2012, Stanbridge College received an award from Institutional Research & Evaluation, Inc., as one of America's Best Technical Colleges. In 2008-2009 Stanbridge College was the recipient of the School of Excellence Award from the Accrediting Commission of Career Schools and Colleges (ACCSC), and since 2007 it has maintained one of the highest continuous pass rates in California on the NCLEX-PN nursing exam, with a 96% five year average pass rate. For more information, please visit www.stanbridge.edu or call (949) 794-9090.