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Students to receive scholarships for community service

Oct. 18, 2010

KALAMAZOO--Applications are due online by 5 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 20, for up to 30 Western Michigan University students to receive scholarships to complete 300 hours of community service each, for a total of 9,000 hours, as part of a new program at the University.

WMU was awarded the slots in the Michigan Campus Compact/Michigan Service Scholars Program, a new AmeriCorps program for 2010-12 that promotes active citizenship through community service-learning among college students.

Students selected to participate in the program and who complete 300 hours of community service between Nov. 1 and Nov. 1, 2011, or between Feb. 1, 2011, and Feb. 1, 2012, will be eligible for a $1,132 education award to use for future tuition or to pay off student loans. Eligible service hours may be completed during the academic year and/or over class breaks, including the summer. Some of the available positions would enable MSS scholars to combine service over multiple community-based sites. Up to 30 scholars will be selected during the launch of the program.

Students participating in the program will have the opportunity to fulfill their service hours by working in a variety of sites and types of positions include serving as high school mathematics tutors with Communities in Schools-Kalamazoo; serving as a mentor with Big Brothers, Big Sisters; using skills to help promote economic revitalization in Kalamazoo; developing neighborhood-based service projects including in Edison, Northside and Eastside neighborhoods, among others. All scholars will have access to special service learning workshops and professional development opportunities during their tenure as scholars.

For information on the WMU-Michigan Service Scholars Program, visit wmich.edu/servicelearning. Read through the online information packet, which includes the description of the seven categories of service scholarships and the link to the online application.

Questions can be directed to Dr. Kathy Purnell, University Service Learning coordinator, at kathy.purnell@wmich.edu or (269) 387-2139.

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Media contact: Deanne Puca, (269) 387-8400, deanne.puca@wmich.edu

WMU News
Office of University Relations
Western Michigan University
Kalamazoo MI 49008-5433 USA
(269) 387-8400
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