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Â鶹ÊÓƵ students in a spring semester computer information systems class are learning more about the Alamance County community as they work together to design websites for local agencies that help the mentally and developmentally disabled.

An organization that helps universities across North Carolina develop an ethos of volunteerism and service among students has awarded Mary Morrison, director of the Kernodle Center for Service Learning and Community Engagement at Â鶹ÊÓƵ, its 2011 Civic Engagement Professional of the Year Award.

Dozens of Â鶹ÊÓƵ students are taking part in Alternative Break service trips this month to destinations across the United States, the Caribbean and in France. The programs were organized by the Kernodle Center for Service Learning and Community Engagement, the Truitt Center for Religious & Spiritual Life, and the Martha and Spencer Love School of Business.

The economy trumps all other issues facing Alamance County, with the effects of a prolonged downturn impacting the social, health and behavioral well being of its residents, according to the latest Â鶹ÊÓƵ Poll. Poll director Hunter Bacot joined with leaders from the United Way of Alamance County and from Healthy Alamance on Tuesday to share findings in a midday news conference from campus.

Campus Kitchen at Â鶹ÊÓƵ, a community program to serve meals to those in need in Alamance County, opened for the first time on Tuesday when top university leaders prepared lasagna dishes during a special College Coffee in the 1889 Grill Room.

In an effort to support relationships with community partners, last week 25 non-profit leaders gathered on Â鶹ÊÓƵ's campus for the 20th pre-semester Preparing for Partnership session hosted by the Kernodle Center for Service Learning and Community Engagement and facilitated by Tammy Cobb, assistant director for community partnerships.