Stetson University has received this year’s Engaged Campus Award for colleges and universities in the independent sector, and Stetson junior Chelsea Lincoln has won the Students in Service Award, from Florida Campus Compact.

The awards were presented at Florida Campus Compact’s recent 2011 Awards Gala inOrlando. Florida Campus Compact is a coalition of more than 50 colleges and universities committed to promoting community service, service-learning and civic engagement.

Stetson was recognized for its commitment to community service and excellence in civic engagement. Noted in particular was the university’s Center for Community Engagement (previously known as the Center for Service Learning), the DeLand-campus hub of collaboration between students, faculty and staff and Stetson’s nonprofit community partners. Center staff, which includes AmeriCorps VISTA members, matches student and employee volunteers with community agencies and also assists in the success of service-learning academic courses. Stetson is the only university inFlorida affiliated with the Corella & Bertram F. Bonner Foundation, through which competitive scholarships are awarded annually to 55 Stetson students who commit to extensive community-engaged learning (community service) and leadership training while they’re in college.

“We are thrilled and honored to receive this award,” said Savannah-Jane Griffin, Stetson associate director of community engagement. “Stetson  University’s long commitment to service, coupled with Florida Campus Compact’s amazing resources, has gotten us to where we are today.”

Lincoln, a Students in Service AmeriCorps member who serves as the issue-based site coordinator for environment and animal rights at Stetson, was honored with the 2011 Students in Service Award. In her role, Lincoln helps coordinate Into the Streets, a monthly service project designed to engage student volunteers, as well as other projects such as park cleanups, removal of invasive species from wildlife refuges and supporting the university’s partnership with New Horizons Service Dogs. She has led workshops at Accepted Student Day, the IMPACT Conference and the Doug Lee Day of Service. A junior from Orlando, Fla., Lincoln is majoring in geography and environmental science.

As a recipient of this award, Lincoln feels extremely honored and thankful that her community service has made a difference. She credits her involvement with the Center for Community Engagement for introducing her to the Students in Service Scholarship program, and finds joy in helping other students get more involved among the community.

Also at the Florida Campus Compact Awards Gala this month, Stetson was recognized as a finalist for the organization’s 2011 Community Partnership Award.