RALEIGH, N.C. (September 30, 2009) - Wake Technical Community College launched a new program today that will encourage volunteerism and community service. The Volunteer and Service Learning Program will coordinate service opportunities for Wake Tech students, staff, faculty, and others to address critical needs in the community.

“We’re pleased to offer this new program as a way to engage our students and employees in civic responsibility,” says Dr. Stephen Scott, president of Wake Tech. “The program will offer avenues for giving back to the community; at the same time, it will introduce

students to a variety of potential career pathways.”

The Volunteer and Service Learning Program kickoff is a project called “Soul to Sole.” Wake Tech students, staff, and faculty are being encouraged to donate gently-worn shoes for the Helping Hand Mission of Raleigh. Bins are set up at all four Wake Tech campuses - Main Campus, Northern Wake Campus, Western Wake Campus, and Health Sciences Campus.

Contributions will be collected through Friday, October 3rd.

Other volunteer opportunities will include Banks Road Elementary School’s Literacy Program, Habitat for Humanity, Wake County 4-H Youth Development, Wake County Health and Human Services and Garner Road YMCA.

The first annual Wake Tech Day of Service is being planned for the spring.

As a member of the NC Campus Compact (http://www.compact.org), Wake Tech has been assigned an AmeriCorps volunteer who will help launch the program. The goal is to provide academic credit for students who

participate in service learning opportunities. Six North Carolina community colleges are members of the NC Campus Compact. Across the country, 60% of community colleges offer service learning programs.