The Jenzabar Foundation recently honored student groups at its annual Student Leadership Awards ceremony in Dallas, Texas. The event recognized seven student-led campus groups who have made significant contributions to better the world outside of their colleges and universities.

Marissa Schade ‘12 (second from left) and her Valley Forge Christian College Community Service Day group were selected as recipients for the 2011-2012 Jenzabar Foundation’s Student Leadership Award and Heroic Leadership Award (awarded in honor of VFCC alumna Jessica Buchanan '07) for VFCC’s annual Community Service Day event. Marissa and current VFCC student Brittany Attard attended the awards ceremony in Dallas on May 30, 2012, where the VFCC group was recognized for its honorable achievements. VFCC received a grant awarded in the form of $8,000 which will be used to continue service efforts in the community. We are proud of Marissa and her group’s accomplishments and we are excited to see what God has in store for Community Service Day 2013.

Community Service Day (CSD) began as an expression of one of the core VFCC institutional values, which is to be a good neighbor to the residents of the Borough of Phoenixville, Pa. CSD brings together approximately 750 students who help local residents with their lawn and gardening work and help clean up the surrounding parks, community streets and roadways. Ultimately, students provide the hands-on assistance needed in rebuilding and cleaning the community areas in the Borough of Phoenixville.

This year's Heroic Leadership Award honored VFCC, recognizing the heroic work of alumnae Jessica Buchanan. Jessica was an aid worker serving the people of Somalia, when she was kidnapped in October 2011 and subsequently rescued by U.S. Navy SEALS in January 2012. VFCC will work with Jessica to identify a campus program that is consistent with the service and missionary work that Jessica has embarked upon after her graduation.

"Every year we hold the annual Student Leadership Awards Ceremony to honor inspiring students who have committed themselves to making our communities a better place, and are role models to their peer students," said Bob Maginn, Chairman of the Jenzabar Foundation. "These students have a strong passion for community service and we are honored to present them with these awards to recognize their outstanding work and encourage others to follow in their footsteps."

The Foundation selected the winning student groups based on their impact and mission, involvement on campus and in the community, and the potential for other institutions to emulate their model of service.

Click here for more information about The Jenzabar Foundation.