The Washington Center for Internships and Academic Seminars has named the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education its “University System of the Year,” citing the “extraordinary partnership” between The Center and the Commonwealth, which has resulted in hundreds of PASSHE students landing prestigious internships in and around the nation’s capital.

“We receive more students from the State System than from any other public university system,” said Dr. Joseph Johnston, senior vice president for The Washington Center. “The support for this program from the universities and the Commonwealth over the years has been extraordinary.”

The award will be presented Monday during a luncheon to be held at the National Press Club in Washington, D.C. PASSHE also will be recognized at the Center’s annual gala to be held that evening at the National Building Museum. The gala, which also helps raise scholarship funds for the program, will be moderated by Bob Schieffer of CBS News.

“This is a very significant honor, and one that recognizes PASSHE’s commitment to providing our students outstanding educational opportunities, both in the classroom and in the real world,” said PASSHE Chancellor Dr. John C. Cavanaugh. “There is no better way to prepare for a successful career than by gaining the real life and practical experience a high-caliber internship provides.”

More than 250 PASSHE students have participated in the Washington Center’s internship program since 2002, including 90 in the past two years. PASSHE students have been placed with a variety of government, business, non-profit and international organizations, including the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the departments of Commerce and Health and Human Services, the Library of Congress, Voice of America, the Institute of World Politics, the Congressional Hispanic Leadership Institute, the Constituency for Africa, the National Cancer Registrars Association and the Peace Corps.

Dr. Johnston praised the students from PASSHE universities who participate in the program, saying, “There is something about the eagerness of students from state universities.”

“These students have the competencies to compete with anyone, but sometimes they don’t have the connections they need,” Dr. Johnston said. “We are pleased to be able to help provide them access to these truly life-changing opportunities.”

Students who participate in an internship through the Center generally receive from 12 to 15 credits. They also attend a variety of academic seminars throughout the term, and many also complete a portfolio for additional credit.

Since 2002 PASSHE students have received more than $1 million in financial assistance from the Commonwealth to participate in the program. The Center has supplemented that amount with an additional $215,000 in scholarship aid.

“The Rendell administration and the General Assembly should be commended for their outstanding support for this program,” said PASSHE Board of Governors Chairman Kenneth M. Jarin. “PASSHE students, and, in turn, the Commonwealth benefit significantly from the opportunities these internships provide. We also are grateful to the Washington Center for their support and recognition of our students and the State System.”

Gov. Rendell also will be recognized at the Center’s gala Monday night with the organization’s “Excellence in Service” award.

The Washington Center is a nonprofit, nonpartisan educational organization based in Washington, D.C. Since its founding in 1975, it has helped place more than 40,000 students from more than 1,000 colleges and universities in internships in the U.S. capital and abroad, including in Quebec City, Canada; London and Oxford, England; and Sydney, Australia. The program operates year-round, offering both fall and spring semester internship opportunities, as well as a summer term.

The Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education is the largest provider of higher education in the Commonwealth, with nearly 117,000 students. The 14 PASSHE universities offer degree and certificate programs in more than 120 areas of study. Approximately 454,000 PASSHE alumni live and work in Pennsylvania.

The state-owned universities are Bloomsburg, California, Cheyney, Clarion, East Stroudsburg, Edinboro, Indiana, Kutztown, Lock Haven, Mansfield, Millersville, Shippensburg, Slippery Rock and West Chester Universities of Pennsylvania. PASSHE also operates branch campuses in Clearfield, Freeport, Oil City and Punxsutawney and several regional centers, including the Dixon University Center in Harrisburg.