GW received an economic impact award from the D.C. Chamber of Commerce last week, the University announced on Monday.

University President Steven Knapp accepted the chamber’s annual award at the chamber’s Choice Awards and Gala at the Marriott Marquis hotel on Friday night, according to the announcement. He cited GW’s 26,000-member student population and 12,000-member employee population as factors for how GW helps contribute to the economy. GW is also one of the city’s richest landlords.

“So we really do contribute directly to the economy in that respect,” Knapp said in a televised statement.

He added that the GW community contributed hundreds of thousands of community service hours in the D.C. community. First Lady Michelle Obama spoke at Commencement in 2010 after students completed her community service challenge.

“We have a strong culture of service. I think it goes all the way back to our namesake tradition to educate citizen leaders in the nation’s capital,” Knapp said. “That core culture of service is something we’ve held true to now for almost 200 years.”

He added that the $275 million Science and Engineering Hall that opened last year helps to create jobs and inventions that are “driving the economy” in D.C.

“We’re also helping to diversify the economy through the intellectual work of our students and faculty here,” he said.