PHILADELPHIA -– The University of Pennsylvania is among 114 colleges and universities named to the 2010 President’s Higher Education Community Service Honor Roll with distinction by the Corporation for National and Community Service.  Penn was cited for its outreach to the West Philadelphia community.

Penn highlighted several of its community service programs for the Corporation’s consideration in making its awards, including:

• The School of Dental Medicine’s collaboration with the School District of Philadelphia. Dental students and faculty reached 7,800 children at 17 schools and summer programs, through state mandated dental examinations with children in 14 schools and preventive and restorative dental care services to school children using the PennSmiles mobile dental bus at 11 schools.  

• University Life Arts Initiatives’ After School Arts at Penn.  Penn students help local children explore the performing arts, including dance, theatre, voice and musical instruments.
  
  
• The School of Nursing’s Living Independently for Elders program. Comprehensive, community-based health care is provided to more than 360 frail elders in West and Southwest Philadelphia who would otherwise require institutionally based long-term care. Dental care is provided by Penn Dental Medicine faculty and students, and students from the Wharton School and School of Social Policy and Practice are also involved at the Center.

• Community School Student Partnerships and West Philadelphia Tutoring Project. The undergraduate student-run CSSP, working with the Netter Center for Community Partnership’s program and school-based staff, provides academic and cultural enrichment to children and youth through college-age mentors. The tutoring project provides West Philadelphia school students with individual attention through one-to-one tutoring and mentoring relationships with Penn students, encouraging academic achievement and increased self-confidence.  

• Moelis Access Science. Coordinated by the Netter Center and Penn’s Math Department, MAS works to improve science, technology, engineering and math education in K-12 classrooms in West Philadelphia.  

• Penn’s Netter Center, through its College Access and Career Readiness program offers comprehensive college and career preparation for West Philadelphia students at two high schools and arranges paid internships in peer education, community revitalization, leadership, advocacy and professional worksites.