JHU's Community Impact Internships program honored for service contributions

Johns Hopkins University's Community Impact Internships Program has been awarded a Governor's Service Award for Exemplary Service Learning, an honor that recognizes sustained commitment to community needs. The award will be presented at a ceremony today at the Miller Senate Office Building in Annapolis, Maryland.

The program, administered by the university's Center for Social Concern, pairs students with Baltimore nonprofits and government agencies to work on community-identified projects for two months at no cost to the organizations themselves. During the summer, 50 students spread across the city to 48 different grassroots and community organizations to work 30 hours each week.

Scott Gottbreht, director of United Way of Central Maryland's Project Homeless, nominated the group for their volunteer service during 2014. His organization has hosted interns for the past four years.

"This is one of the leading programs in the country for turning undergrads into ambassadors for the university in the community," he said. Gottbreht, a Johns Hopkins instructor whose coursework focuses on bridging the university community divide, praised the program for its tangible impact in the community.

Also see: Making an Impact (Hopkins Interactive)

Award recipients must demonstrate meaningful, sustained service that makes a measurable difference to Maryland's most pressing community needs, extraordinary acts of kindness, and a contribution to the greater community through volunteerism.

Abby Neyenhouse, assistant director of the Center for Social Concern, will attend the awards ceremony in Annapolis to accept the award. Yumi Hogan, the First Lady of Maryland, will present a medal from the governor to the recipients, and Steve McAdams, the executive director of the Governor's Office on Community Initiatives, will award honorees with citations.

Baltimore Orioles All-Star Adam Jones, who will receive an award for his volunteer activities in Baltimore City, is the keynote speaker.

"I am proud that our program has been recognized for our particular model of internship-based community engagement over the past five years," said Neyenhouse, who oversees the program. "Our community partners across Baltimore are doing the inspiring work of meeting the needs of our city everyday, and with the help of our donors we have the distinct privilege of placing our undergraduates in positions that support this critical work."