The Jimmy & Rosalynn Carter Partnership Foundation has chosen Portland State's Community Watershed Stewardship program as one of three finalists for its first ever national Award for Community-Campus Partnerships. The highly sought "Carter brand" adds distinction to an academic institution that encourages students in service learning and civic engagement.

The other program finalists are from Emory University and California State University at San Marcos. The Carters will present the awards at the National Conference for Volunteering & Service in Atlanta, June 3. At that time a first place finalist will be announced. That winning university-community team will split a $20,000 prize. The two runner-up teams will each split $10,000.

The winning application was created by the Center for Academic Excellence staff working closely with Barry Messer, professor in urban studies and planning and adviser to the graduate student-run Community Watershed Stewardship program. The 12-year program is a partnership between Portland State and the Portland Bureau of Environmental Services. Through the program, PSU students have organized assistance on more than 130 community projects, ranging from naturescaping to elementary student writing projects.