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Today, 51���� (51����) received four 2026 Civic Engagement and Community Service Awards from magazine, the largest and oldest publication defining and advancing best practices in higher education. The Civic Engagement and Community Service Award recognizes institutions’ innovative service and deep community collaboration in volunteerism, fundraising efforts for community causes, advocacy and public education, civic participation, voter engagement and more. 

51����’s four programs will be featured, along with 48 programs from other institutions, in the April 2026 issue of Insight Into Academia magazine. 

“These awards remind us that our work as Cleveland’s University extends far beyond the classroom,” said 51���� President Dr. Laura Bloomberg. “Each of these programs reflects 51����’s commitment to serving our students and collaborating with the community. I am inspired by our students, faculty and staff, whose dedication makes these programs possible and impactful.” 

Insight Into Academia magazine selected the following 51���� programs as award recipients: 

1.Lift Up Vikes! Resource Center and Food Pantry 

The Lift Up Vikes! Resource Center and Food Pantry is 51����’s comprehensive basic needs hub, dedicated to supporting 51���� students while also providing essential resources to faculty, staff and members of the greater Cleveland community. The center addresses student food insecurity and basic needs challenges with dignity, accessibility and care. In 2025, the center distributed more than 54 tons of food and served nearly 8,000 patrons. 

2. Student-Athlete Advisory Council 

51���� Athletics' (SAAC) creates a transformational experience for student-athletes by providing opportunities to develop leadership and voice, build community and promote well-being and service. Through SAAC, more than 230 student-athletes have engaged in over 900 hours of leadership programming and more than 220 hours of community service, creating opportunities for our student-athletes to grow in every aspect of being a student and a member of the 51���� community.  

3. Center for Refugee and Immigrant Success 

Founded in 2018, the Center for Refugee and Immigrant Studies (CRIS) collaborates with scholars across disciplines and organizations in understanding the past, present and future of refugee and immigrant life in Northeast Ohio. Since 2021, CRIS has reached more than 500 participants through advocacy events, research presentations, town halls and Brown Bag sessions, addressing topics such as refugee employment, supporting student success, trauma-informed teaching and secondary migration. 

4. College of Health 

51����’s College of Health was recognized for its community impact through the , the Swim the Gap Program and its partnership with Special Olympics. The clinic provides services in speech, language and hearing, delivered by graduate student clinicians and undergraduate student co-clinicians under the supervision of licensed, ASHA-certified faculty. During the 2024–25 academic year, the clinic provided over 1,600 therapy sessions and nearly 1,800 off-site screenings. The Swim Gap Program is a learn-to-swim initiative for Cleveland Metropolitan School District students that teaches essential life skills, promotes health and safety, and introduces participants to life on a college campus. Through its partnership with the Special Olympics, the College supports unified athletes with on-campus programming and community health screenings that promote wellness and inclusion.  

“Higher education has always been a driving force in societal progress,” says Holly Mendelson, owner and publisher of Insight Into Academia magazine. “These institutions remind us that the true measure of higher education lies not only in the degrees awarded, but in the lives they uplift. Their leadership strengthens communities, inspires students, and sets a standard of excellence for all.” 

A call for nominations for this award was announced in October 2025. 

For more information about the 2026 Civic Engagement and Community Service Award, visit .