RIVERSIDE, Calif. (Jan. 30) -- California Baptist University's Lancer Plaza North was honored with a beautification award Jan. 22 from the Keep Riverside Clean and Beautiful (KRCB) program.

CBU received first place in the category of Exterior Reconstruction with Landscaping. Mayor Rusty Bailey and Cindy Roth, CEO of the Greater Riverside Chambers of Commerce, presented the KRCB awards during the annual State of the City address. Mark Howe, CBU vice president for finance and administration, accepted the award on behalf of the university.

Before CBU acquired the 11-acre property in 2006 and subsequently renamed it in honor of the university's mascot, restaurants and retail stores occupied the shopping center that was known as Adams Plaza. Today, Lancer Plaza features space for university offices, student areas and El Monte Grill, one of the newest and most popular dining campus facilities.

The award is one of nine KRCB beautification awards presented each year, with some including second- and third-place honors.

According to the KRCB website, the awards are presented to "buildings and facilities within the City of Riverside that capture outstanding landscape, cleanliness and curb appeal."

KRCB is a community program sponsored by the City of Riverside and the Greater Riverside Chambers of Commerce. Its mission is "to instill a sense of community pride by creating partnerships that work toward the beautification of the city."

In 2014, CBU's Recreation Center received the Mayor's Award from KRCB.