The Washington Center Honors Furman as Private University of the Year

GREENVILLE, SC.- September, 26, 2010- The Washington Center, an organization that provides college students with the opportunity to work and learn in the nation’s capital, has named Furman University as its Private University of the Year.

The award recognizes the long-standing collaboration between Furman and The Washington Center over the past 25 years.  According to Danielle Vinson, chair of the political science department, nearly 900 Furman students have interned and earned academic credit at the center during that time.

“Among our 500 affiliated institutions, Furman has stood out for the seriousness with which it prepares students for their time here and for the active participation of faculty in the program itself,” said Michael B. Smith, president of The Washington Center.  “We are delighted to honor the university for the excellence of its program and the efforts of all involved.”Furman will be honored at two functions in Washington , D.C. , on Oct. 4.  The first annual Academic Awards Luncheon will be held at the National Press Club, and the center’s 2010 Gala will take place later that night.

“Furman’s partnership with The Washington Center has had a tremendous impact on our students,” Vinson said.  “I frequently hear stories from students who participated in Furman’s Washington internship program about how the program helped them decide on a career path and prepared them for the real world or brought to life what they had been learning in their classes on campus.  We are pleased the Washington Center has chosen to honor Furman with this award.”In addition to Furman, the University of Iowa will be honored as the Public University of the Year, and the University of Massachusetts System will be recognized as the System of the Year.

The Washington Center is an independent, nonprofit organization serving hundreds of colleges and universities in the United States and other countries by providing students with opportunities to work and learn in Washington , D.C. , for academic credit. The largest program of its kind, the center has 70 full-time staff and over 40,000 alumni, many of whom are in leadership positions in the public, private and nonprofit sectors.

For more information, visit The Washington Center website or call Furman’s News and Media Relations office at 864-294-3107.