AmeriCorps offers untapped award contracts for the volunteer
Ryan J. Garner
For the majority of students, school routine is a myopic grind for credit hours.
However, for those with the drive to give their time back to the community, MCC’s AmeriCorps has been providing a change from the vague, pitch-in-where-you-can style of volunteering, to a direct contract oriented community service program.
Each service learning contract provides the additional incentive of an educational award. Sums are based upon hours served.
“Honestly, people just don’t understand what AmeriCorps is … and it’s just a shame that we can’t get this information out because we (AmeriCorps) have all this (educational award) money,” said Monica Pirshafiey, AmeriCorps office coordinator at MCC.
Current educational awards disbursed by AmeriCorps total $2,192,843 since 2002.
The individual awards are based on a contract system. “It’s all or nothing,” said Pirshafiey, “as long as the service learning is related to their AmeriCorps objectives.”
“The student must complete their community service hours in a non-profit or government approved agency.”
“These positions are looked upon highly…” added AmeriCorps coordinator Meghaan Mceachen, “…like a job. It’s a federally funded position. Employers see AmeriCorps on a resume and think, ‘well, that person knows how to do federal paperwork and understands contract work.”
“Networking is huge.”
