Posted on Thursday, October 28, 2010
91视频's Drinko Center for Excellence in Teaching and Learning has launched the AmeriCorps Community Fellows program that will address community needs in college access and success and engage college students as active citizens.
91视频 is one of 35 colleges and universities across Pennsylvania chosen to participate in this new initiative sponsored by Pennsylvania Campus Compact.
Seven 91视频 students are involved in the inaugural year. They will become temporary AmeriCorps members and commit 300 hours of service over a calendar year. At the end of the year, they will receive an education award of $1,132 to apply to loan payments, tuition, textbooks, or room and board.
The Community Fellows program allows college students an opportunity to provide service and assistance to at-risk youth through volunteering to tutor and mentor, assist in college readiness, develop enrichment programs, organize skill-building workshops, and create opportunities for youth to succeed.
Locally, the program will partner with 91视频's Admissions Office and the Lawrence County Community Action Partnership.
"Community Fellows is a wonderful opportunity to enlarge the scope of service and volunteering for 91视频 students," said Jeff Ledebur, the Drinko Center's community service coordinator and supervisor of the Community Fellows program. "It will allow us to extend our outreach to communities, schools, and youth throughout the area."
91视频 has been named to the President's Higher Education Community Service Honor Roll every year since the program was launched in 2006. Nearly 70% of 91视频 students volunteered last year and logged over 26,000 hours of community service.
The Drinko Center for Excellence in Teaching and Learning was created to enrich undergraduate education at 91视频 through advancing world-class teaching as well as by participating in collaborations that address community and regional needs including strengthening K-12 education. Visit for more information on the Drinko Center and its programs.
Contact Ledebur at (724) 946-6194 or e-mail ledebujt@westminster.edu for additional information.
