USAFA makes president's honor roll for interfaith service

  • Published
  • By Amber Baillie
  • U.S. Air Force Academy Public Affairs
U.S. AIR FORCE ACADEMY, Colo. --  This year, the Academy made the President's Higher Education Community Service Honor Roll - the highest federal honor a college or university can receive for its commitment to community service.

The Academy is one of 98 higher education institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education and Corporation for National Community Service for its leadership in developing interfaith programs and working to solve community challenges.

The Cadet Interfaith Council here, comprised of 18 cadets representing 10 distinctive faith groups, picked up trash at Dorchester Park in January and Rampart Range in April for the President's Interfaith Community Service and Campus Challenge. Cadets spent about three hours on each project to better the environment and get to know each other.

In 2011, President Obama issued the challenge and more than 400 public and private institutions of higher education responded.

"The purpose of the challenge is to merge interfaith cooperation and community service," said Chaplain (Capt.) Michael Carey, the council liaison. "It allows cadets to give back to the community and recognize the importance of respect in our pluralistic, diverse Air Force."

The council meets monthly to discuss and provide cadet wing interfaith opportunities, mitigate religious respect issues within the cadet wing and lead the challenge for the Academy. 

"It provides cadets' an avenue to share an important part of who they are with others and encourages interfaith dialogue," Carey said.

Cadet 1st Class Kristi Tanaka, cadet in charge of the council, said the group's mission is unique.

"It's a way for us to get to know each other better through service," she said. "The group consists of people of very different faiths and backgrounds but with similar values and goals. We're diverse but sit at the same table and discuss issues that affect the entire cadet wing. It brings cohesiveness to the wing."