Providence, R.I.--Eight students from Providence College each will provide more than 300 hours of service to local community organizations this summer as part of the AmeriCorps Scholarships for Service (SFS) Recovery Program.
The program will utilize a one-time infusion of federal funds from the Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 to match participants with area nonprofits and provide them with a living allowance.
The eight students are Bethany Killian '11 (Thomaston, Conn.), Brock Leiendecker '10 (Norfolk, Mass.), John Maleri '10 (Trumbull, Conn.), Sean Patrick O'Brien '09 (Jenkintown, Pa.), Michael Oumano '10 (Naugatuck, Conn.), Greg Randolph '10 (Westwood, Mass.), Lauren Utschig '10 (Harrison, N.Y.), and Kimberly Utz '10 (Plainfield, Conn.).
"In challenging economic times, many students mentioned to me that they were struggling to find summer employment," said Colleen Rost-Banik, service learning coordinator at the College's Feinstein Institute for Public Service. "The recovery money helps the students do good service locally while being able to afford rent and food."
In exchange for their work, students will receive a $1,000 education award to be applied to tuition or loans, as well as a living allowance of $1,710. The program began June 1 and will continue through September 4.
The eight PC students come from a variety of majors and will serve at organizations throughout Rhode Island, including the Southside Community Land Trust, the Institute for the Study and Practice of Nonviolence, Youth Pride, Save the Bay, International Institute of Rhode Island, R.I. International Film Festival, and Smith Hill Community Development Corporation--YouthRAP.
Rost-Banik said the service sites will entail "everything from working on an urban farm, to assisting refugees transition to life in Rhode Island, to educating against various forms of discrimination," and more.
The College has worked with AmeriCorps for many years through programs such as SFS, AmeriCorps VISTA, and the Justice Talks series of reflections. Numerous PC students have completed a year of service with AmeriCorps after graduation, Rost-Banik added.
The Feinstein Institute has helped to facilitate the SFS Recovery Program by recruiting students and offering guidance throughout their experience. The effort has been led by Lizzie Lydon '07, who serves as a Rhode Island Campus Compact AmeriCorps VISTA coordinator.
"She has done a remarkable job with recruiting a broad range of students to participate, and she provides significant support to the students throughout their service experience," said Rost-Banik.
According to the Corporation for National and Community Service, Rhode Island ranks fourth in the nation for college student volunteerism. Since the summer of 2006, more than 40 PC students have contributed more than 12,000 hours to non-profit agencies in the state through AmeriCorps.
- Joe Miller '10
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