Springfield College AmeriCorps Programs Celebrates AmeriCorps Opening Day
For the first time, the Massachusetts Service Alliance hosted the Massachusetts AmeriCorps Opening Day in western Massachusetts. The Springfield College AmeriCorps members gathered in Riverfront Park in downtown Springfield to officially take the Service Oath and celebrate the start of the 2021-22 service season.
For the first time, the Massachusetts Service Alliance hosted the Massachusetts AmeriCorps Opening Day in western Massachusetts, and the Springfield College AmeriCorps Program was well represented. The Springfield College AmeriCorps program is the largest in western Massachusetts, and AmeriCorps members gathered in Riverfront Park in downtown Springfield to officially take the Service Oath and celebrate the start of the 2021-22 service season.
Springfield College AmeriCorps members were joined by Springfield Mayor Domenic Sarno, and State Senators Eric Lesser and Adam Gomez in celebrating the more than 20,000 hours of service Springfield College AmeriCorps members provide annually to more than 18 Springfield Public Schools leading to academic success in English, Math, improved results in attendance, and behavior.
For more than 20 years, the Springfield College AmeriCorps program has provided the city of Springfield and Springfield Public Schools with student support and academic support specialists who provide mentoring, counseling, social-emotional reinforcement, direct interventions, and identification of risk factors that lead to dropping out of school.
Both Springfield College undergraduate and graduate students are encouraged to apply to the Springfield College AmeriCorps program, as well as community members, and retired educators. Both half-time and quarter-time positions are available throughout the year. Members receive a modest living allowance and, upon completion of their service, they earn Education Award funds that can be applied toward tuition or qualified student loans.
Every year nationally, 75,000 AmeriCorps members partner with over 21,000 schools, nonprofits, and community and faith-based organizations to serve their communities. These citizens have played a critical role in the recovery of communities affected by disasters and helped thousands of first generation college students access higher education. They also tutor and mentor young people, connect veterans to jobs, care for seniors, reduce crime and revive cities, fight the opioid epidemic, and meet other critical needs.
Since the program’s inception in 1994, more than one million Americans have served, providing more than 1.5 billion hours of service and earning more than $3.6 billion in education scholarships, more than $1 billion of which has been used to pay back student debt.
For more information about the Springfield College AmeriCorps program, visit springfield.edu/americorps or e-mail americorps@springfield.edu.
Springfield College is an independent, nonprofit, coeducational institution founded in 1885. Approximately 4,100 students, including 2,500 full-time undergraduate students, study at its main campus in Springfield, Mass., and at its regional campuses across the country. Springfield College inspires students through the guiding principles of its Humanics philosophy – educating in spirit, mind, and body for leadership in service to others.
