Students earn $50,000 in scholarships through AmeriCorps

During the 2009-10 academic year, 33 UW Tacoma students joined the AmeriCorps Students in Service program, donating time worth nearly $400,000 and earning more than $50,000 in scholarships.

Students in Service is a part-time AmeriCorps program that signs up college students for one year of service at a community nonprofit. The students learn valuable civic and workforce skills and can earn scholarships towards tuition or student loans. The Washington program is administered by Washington Campus Compact in Bellingham.

"Students in Service provides thousands of students the opportunity to serve their community," said Jennifer Dorr, executive director of Washington Campus Compact. "Not only does this program benefit students, but communities also receive a significant contribution of time and energy from students."

In Washington and Idaho, more than 1,000 students worked with Students in Service this year, contributing 520,000 hours of service and earning $1.5 million in scholarships.