Milwaukee Area Technical College's Center for Engaged and Service Learning Foundation, Inc., received several accolades for a pilot project they coordinated during the summer of 2008 called the Environmental Survival Challenge (ESC). The three-week project brought together urban, rural and suburban middle school students to learn about the environment and the sustainability of Greater Milwaukee ecosystems.

Representatives were awarded both the 2009 Governor's Service Recognition Award and the State Superintendent's Service-Learning Award at the Wisconsin National Service Governor's Recognition Banquet in February. The Southeastern Wisconsin Service Learning Consortium (SEWSLC), of which MATC is a member, contributed to the project and was also recognized in these awards.

In addition, Courtney Marlaire, MATC associate dean of Liberal Arts and Sciences, and Suzanne Goodrich, MATC psychology instructor, presented information on the project at the International Association for Research on Service-Learning and Community Engagement Conference in New Orleans last fall. They presented an overview of the project and information gathered by MATC researcher Yan Wang.