New College students receive national award

Manatee County Habitat nominated 15 New College of Florida students for the President’s Volunteer Service Award, a national recognition award for their ongoing service to Manatee County for Habitat for Humanity.

The student group received the award in a March 22 ceremony at Emerson Point Preserve for regularly participating in a neighborhood build at Hope Landing in Palmetto, ReHabitat renovation projects and A Brush with Kindness painting projects throughout Manatee County. The student’s qualified for the award’s Silver level for logging more than 500 hours of service so far this year.

Students say their community service work is far from over. “We’re aiming for 1,000 hours by the end of this year,” said club president Kristine Totanes in a press release.

New College students have been volunteering with Habitat for Humanity since August 2012 and the work spawned a student-run Habitat for Humanity club on campus and a group independent study project in January.