Professor Hill earns President's Award for volunteer service

For decades of campus and community volunteer service, Rodney Hill, professor of architecture at Texas A&M, was recognized last spring with the U.S. [President’s Volunteer Service Award] (http://www.presidentialserviceawards.gov/) from the [Corporation for National & Community Service] (http://www.nationalservice.gov/) , a federal agency that fosters community engagement through service and volunteering.

The honor was in the Call to Service category, a lifetime achievement award for volunteers who have provided more than 4,000 hours of service and, by their demonstrated commitment and example, inspire others to volunteer.

“Hill has been a tireless servant for student entrepreneurship, student innovation and creativity,” said Shelly Brenckman, marketing coordinator for [Startup Aggieland] (http://startupaggieland.com/) , a student business incubator at Texas A&M, where Hill leads entrepreneurship and brainstorming workshops.

“Students and staff at Startup Aggieland rely on dedicated and committed volunteers like Rodney. Without volunteers like him, students most certainly would not enjoy the personal attention and services we provide,” said Brenckman.

In addition to volunteering at Startup Aggieland, Hill has served a vast array of student and civic organizations since joining the Texas A&M faculty in 1969.

He’s been an adviser to numerous campus groups, including two Corps of Cadets units, the Guatemala club, the Christian architecture leaders club, the wakeboard club, the rugby club, Kappa Sigma fraternity and the American Institute of Architecture student chapter, which he’s advised since 1970.

Hill has also served on the Brazos County Courthouse Citizens Advisory Committee, the city of College Station’s zoning variance and historic planning committees and was PTO president and visioning committee member for the College Station ISD.

He has also been on the board of directors of the [American Creativity Association] (http://www.amcreativityassoc.org/) , a 4-H parent leader and coach, a 4-H crafts fair judge and has presented lectures to National Merit Scholar students.

“When you stack what Rodney has done for Startup Aggieland with his many other ongoing commitments in the community and nationally, I am convinced that Rodney never sleeps — there are not enough hours in the day to do all he does,” said Brenckman.