Press release
from AmeriCorps
Skylar Larson of Asheville, N.C., is one of 160 men and women pledging to perform 10 months of national service as part of the Atlantic Region’s 19th Class of the National Civilian Community Corps (NCCC), an AmeriCorps program.
As a Corps Member, Larsen will spend 10 months getting things done for America while strengthening communities and developing her leadership. Larsen and her team will work on a variety of projects focusing on environmental stewardship, infrastructure improvement, urban and rural development, energy conservation and disaster relief. She may work with such organizations as Habitat for Humanity, American Red Cross and The Nature Conservancy.
“I heard about the program through a good friend who had served previously,” Larson said.
After her 10 month stint, Larsen will graduate from NCCC on November 14, 2013, with an education award of $5,550, which can be used to continue education or pay back student loans.
“I joined AmeriCorps to remove myself from my comfort zone so that I could grow,” said Larson. “This program exposes me to so many opportunities for my academic and professional future while allowing me the incredible experience of directly helping people in need.”
AmeriCorps NCCC is a full-time, residential, national service program in which 1,100 young adults serve nationwide each year. During their 10-month term, Corps Members–all 18 to 24 years old–work on teams of eight to 12 on projects that address critical needs related to natural and other disasters, infrastructure improvement, environmental stewardship and conservation, energy conservation, and urban and rural development. Members mentor students, construct and rehabilitate low-income housing, respond to natural disasters, clean up streams, help communities develop emergency plans, and address countless other local needs. The Atlantic Region campus in Perry Point is one of five regional hubs in the United States and serves fourteen states in the northeast part of the country. The other campuses are located in Denver, Colorado, Sacramento, California, Vicksburg, Mississippi and Vinton, Iowa.
In exchange for their service, Corps Members receive $5,550 to help pay for college, or to pay back existing student loans. Other benefits include a small living stipend, room and board, leadership development, increased self-confidence, and the knowledge that, through active citizenship, people can indeed make a difference. AmeriCorps NCCC is administered by the Corporation for National and Community Service, a federal agency. The Corporation improves lives, strengthens communities, and fosters civic engagement through service and volunteering. For more information about AmeriCorps NCCC, visit the website at www.americorps.gov/nccc.
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