NCC-Monroe to Host AmeriCorps Community Fellows Program

By Myra Saturen
July 20, 2010

The Pennsylvania Campus Compact has granted Northampton Community College's (NCC) Monroe Campus the opportunity to host the Pennsylvania Campus Compact Communities Fellows program for the 2010-2011 program year.  Four NCC-Monroe students will have the chance to participate in this statewide initiative.

The purpose of the AmeriCorps Community Fellows program is to address compelling community needs in the areas of college access and success, while encouraging college students to become active citizens.  AmeriCorps Community Fellows of Pennsylvania will recruit student volunteers to serve in K-12 schools and community-based after-school organizations to enhance at-risk students' college access and readiness.  The Fellows will work with those students to provide career awareness and study skills development, standardized test preparation, and college and career information.  They will also help the students access high school guidance counseling, schedule college visits, complete the college application process, identify potential sources of financial aid, and assist faculty in creating a school-wide college-going culture. 

In exchange for contributing 300 hours of volunteer service over the course of the academic year, the Community Fellows will each receive an Americorps Award of $1,132.  In addition, Community Fellows will receive ongoing support and training from Pennsylvania Campus Compact to ensure the quality of the service that they are providing to the community and to encourage life-long civic involvement. 

The program will be offered in collaboration with high schools in Monroe County.  The successful grant application was written by Sara Dolci, a member of the AmeriCorps VISTA national service program who has spearheaded community service projects at NCC-Monroe for the past year.

For more information about the Community Fellows program,  call Jennifer Bell at 570-620-9221, ext. 248.