Issue date: 11/12/09 Section: News

Media Credit: Photo Submitted Americorp member Michelle Ftacek plays 'sight word Bingo' with the South Elementary Unite Club at the Corbin Independent Schools.

When seniors graduate from college, they have to deal with all sorts of applications: job applications, graduate school applications and possibly scholarship applications for graduate school. Most of these applications ask for the same things: experience, personal questions and - undoubtedly - how much volunteer work has been completed. Volunteering is a part of college, and many opportunities are available. One major way to volunteer at Eastern is through AmeriCorps.

AmeriCorps, described as "Peace Corps at home," has had a branch on campus known as SERV Corps since 1994. Ever year, thirty applicants are selected to serve from Sept. 1 to June 30, during which the members must complete 1,700 hours of service.

"Just as the Peace Corps sends people overseas to serve other countries and communities, AmeriCorps places Americans in communities to serve the needs [there]," said Nancy Thames, director of Eastern's AmeriCorps program.

Thames said Eastern's SERV Corps members tutor at-risk reading students and teach drug abuse education programs. They serve in 16 to 18 school districts in southeastern and south central Kentucky.

In addition to their service at these schools, SERV Corps participates in other various activities, such as Red Ribbon Week, which promotes drug-free awareness, Dr. Seuss's birthday, which promotes reading literacy, and the AmeriCorps food drive.

In this year's Make a Difference Day Food Drive, SERV Corps collected the most canned foods, collecting over 42 tons of food. That equals more than 45 thousand ounces collected per member.

"I am so glad that SERV Corps at EKU has collected 42 tons of food so that Kentucky families will not go hungry - for a while at least," Thames said. SERV Corps members get more than volunteer hours, though. While members are serving, they receive a living stipend of $11,500, child care, free health insurance, forbearance on any educational loans, free training sessions and possible credit for school. After their hours have been completed, they are given an educational award of $4,725.

"AmeriCorps members get . . . a lot of training, experience, and networking for the future," Thames said.

Continued...

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