Congratulations to Averett University of Danville – winner of the 2019 Governor’s Volunteerism and Community Service Award for Outstanding Educational Institution! Service is woven into the fabric of Averett University. Averett’s mission is to prepare students to serve and lead as catalysts for positive change. The university’s Center for Community Engagement and Career Competitiveness (CCECC) is a primary example of their dedication to service. CCECC is an innovative program which serves as a facilitator for pairing volunteers from Averett, Danville Community College, and Piedmont Community College with local organizations such as God’s Storehouse, the Boys & Girls Club of the Dan River Region, and many others. The first program of its kind in the Commonwealth, the CCECC has built a regional framework to advance community engagement, experiential learning, and career development. From Day to Engage, a collaborative effort between schools and community partners on 13 projects, to the Walk to End Alzheimer’s and many other projects, the CCECC has made a huge impact on the region. In addition to the CCECC, Averett Athletics is another wonderful example of service and outreach. The athletic program provides ongoing service opportunities to their student-athletes. The program received an Award of Merit for Community Service from the NCAA Division III for Special Olympics Fun Day activities at which 350 student-athletes volunteered. Throughout the entire university in all its many programs, in 2018 alone, more than 600 volunteers have served the local community. From energizing the student body to vote and hosting National Service programs like AmeriCorps and AmeriCorps VISTA, Averett has made community engagement a top priority. Averett University is indeed an innovator, keeping its commitment to fostering a culture of service and serving as a model for other universities to create a common expectation and opportunity for more young Americans to serve their communities and country. Read more Volunteer Stories! Submit a Story!