Vote for the most outstanding college student civic leaders who will win $25,000 in scholarships and grants

Bellingham, WA – March 4, 2011 – Washington Campus Compact and Inspireum announced today the top 15 semifinalists for the Students In Service Awards.  These outstanding college students were selected from hundreds nationwide whose volunteer service positively impacts society and inspires others to serve.The Students In Service Awards (SISA) program engages the broader community to support students, community organizations, and colleges and universities that cultivate student leadership through service.

“These students have shown amazing initiative and dedication in tackling some of the most challenging issues facing our communities, from building schools in impoverished African communities to skills workshops for incarcerated teens,” said Jennifer Dorr, executive director of Washington Campus Compact.  “They’ve addressed each social challenge head-on with determination and innovation.”

Finalists were selected by the Washington Campus Compact staff and over 450,000 supporters nationwide who voted for their favorite student and project. These finalists will compete for $25,000 in academic scholarships and grants through the voting and selection process taking place over the next two weeks.

Voting Still Open

Students, educators, family members, and other community members are invited to show support by voting for their favorite student and service project at www.serviceawards.org through March 16, 2011. A national selection committee of esteemed civic leaders will select the winner and runner-up, and one “fan favorite” winner will be determined purely by votes from supporters across the country. Scholarship recipients and their service projects will be recognized at the 14^th Annual Continuums of Service Conference, a nationally recognized service and civic engagement conference in San Diego, CA, on April 28, 2011.

“There is no doubt that these students are changing the world. Collectively, they have contributed an incredible amount of time, effort, knowledge and leadership toward some of the most difficult challenges facing communities around the globe,” said Kim Solem, Vice President at Inspireum, LLC. “They’re also showing us that community service offers demonstrable benefits that go far beyond the impact on recipients: service teaches us how to become engaged, responsible citizens, and is a vital activity for the positive development of the next generation.”

About Washington Campus Compact

Established in 1992 and hosted at Western Washington University, Washington Campus Compact and its membership of 41 two- and four-year colleges and universities are committed to providing meaningful experiences for students to become active, engaged leaders in their communities, furthering the civic and public purposes of higher education and strengthening communities. Washington Campus Compact is an affiliate state office of Campus Compact, a national organization comprised of more than 1,100 higher education institutions committed to the civic and public purposes of higher education.

Press Contact: Brian Heinrich – Washington Campus Compact / 360-650-4147 / brian.heinrich@wwu.edu

About Insperium

Inspireum provides a comprehensive technology and media platform that helps organizations recognize and reward inspirational young people in America. Inspireum utilizes proprietary platform technology, hosted services and social media to create a comprehensive nomination, voting and donation platform that powers inspirational youth awards, scholarships and fund raising programs. In addition to the Students in Service Awards™, Inspireum in partnership with Trusted Sports, Inc. manages the High School Football Rudy Awards™ honoring athletes who have overcome tremendous obstacles to not only find success on the field, but also serve as an inspiration to others. This scholarship awards program looks beyond traditional athletic performance measures to reward team-oriented values and inspirational impact that help youth succeed throughout life.

Press Contact:  Kim Solem – Inspireum LLC / 206-227-2604 / kim_solem@msn.com