When it comes to community service, University of Arkansas at Little Rock students are among the state’s most engaged. 

Pillars of Academia recently released a state-by-state ranking of colleges and universities with the most altruistic and community service-minded students. UA Little Rock ranked first in the state and 154th of all universities considered nationwide.

Sarah Beth Estes, executive director of the Community Connection Center, said it is easy to see how community minded the students at UA Little Rock are through their volunteer work and community service.

“We wouldn’t be able to staff the Trojan Food Pantry or Clothes Closet without students,” Estes said. “Since the founding of the food pantry in spring of 2016, over 40 student volunteers have worked to provide food to the UA Little Rock community.”

Faith Thomas, vice president of the Student Government Association, said the students often focus on community service that helps people in the community get the “resources they need to improve their current situation.”

“I think that service is the heart of our communities, and it takes passionate individuals to lead the conversation and action,” Thomas said.

For the list, Pillars of Academic used Washington Monthly university rankings, which ranks schools on social mobility, research, and service.

The community service score was based on each school’s performance in four areas: military service, national service, percentage of federal work-study grant money spent on community service, and the percent of students doing community service as well as the number of hours of community service per student.

See the rankings here.