RALEIGH (Dec. 22, 2009) - Aliah Saarah Abdul-Rauf, a Peace College student from Chapel Hill, has been honored as one of 27 recipients of the fourth annual North Carolina Campus Compact Community Impact Student Award.

Abdul-Rauf and the other students from across the state received the award for making significant and innovative contributions to their campus' efforts to address local community needs. 

Sylva councilwoman Stacy Knotts and the Compact's Executive Director, Dr. Lisa Keyne, presented the student awards in November before an audience of more than 220 college students and guests representing 25 higher education institutions. Abdul-Rauf also received a Volunteer Certificate of Appreciation from Gov. Beverly Perdue and a congratulatory letter from Rep. Heath Shuler.

Abdul-Rauf is a junior majoring in anthropology with a concentration in cultural anthropology and a minor in leadership studies. She has been heavily involved with campus activities and community service, including work as a head resident assistant and as an active member of the Residence Hall Association. Abdul-Rauf is president of Peace's Anthropology Club and co-founder of Home Sweet Homes, an on-campus club that works with Builders of Hope and Habitat for Humanity. She was recently inducted into the leadership honors society Omicron Delta Kappa. After graduating in 2011, she plans to work with AmeriCorps. 

North Carolina Campus Compact is a statewide coalition of higher education presidents and chancellors established to encourage and support campus engagement in the community.