The Service Year Alums Awards recognize and celebrate outstanding alums across the national service community for their contributions during their service years and beyond. This diverse network is composed of AmeriCorps Alums, Returned Peace Corps Volunteers, YouthBuild alums, and alums from various service year programs across the country.
In 2024, the awards highlight service year alums successful in bridging divides across lines of difference and fostering positive change in their communities.
Bridging Divides - coming together across divides to listen and understand each other, to find common ground, build relationships, and to make collaboration the norm.
Each awardee was asked to reflect on their service year and identify the learning and experiences that enabled them to come together across divides, including age, race and ethnicity, identity, and more. In doing so, each awardee demonstrated how their service year helped them find common ground, build relationships, and collaborate.
Kristian served in the Appalachian Conservation Corps, an AmeriCorps program at the C&O Canal in Western Maryland. As an AmeriCorps member, his goal was to bridge cultural and linguistic divides between the park and local Latino communities. By creating bilingual boat tours and culturally relevant activities, Kristian connected Latino families with the park’s history, fostered inclusion and a sense of belonging, and enriched the park’s engagement with a broader audience. This approach not only encouraged a more diverse visitor base but also enhanced the park’s role as a shared space for all.
As an AmeriCorps member at a high school in Buffalo, New York, Chris helped enhance LGBTQ+ inclusion and understanding within the school community. He connected across generations and identities through the creation of a Gender and Sexuality Club and a Safe Zone Program. His service enabled students to engage directly with staff, nominate them for Safe Zone recognition, and build relationships. Through these initiatives, Chris fostered mutual respect and collaboration, ensuring that students and teachers felt heard and supported in their shared goal of inclusivity.
Nemanja helped address cultural and language differences as an AmeriCorps member with City Year Chicago and Reading Partners Seattle. In South Chicago, he worked with a diverse student body, and while in South Seattle, he tackled language barriers for East African families. By organizing bilingual literacy events and distributing Tigrinya-English books and activities, Nemanja connected English-speaking educators with Tigrinya-speaking families to foster a more inclusive and supportive educational environment. This approach not only facilitated cultural exchange and strengthened relationships but also significantly improved academic outcomes, promoted inclusivity, and enhanced community cohesion.
As an AmeriCorps member in northwest Indiana, Jada helped enhance mental health awareness and suicide prevention across a range of initiatives, including a unique focus on educating community members and law enforcement officers. Through specialized training sessions that brought together law enforcement and community members, she facilitated understanding and collaboration, demonstrating how active listening and finding common ground can unite varied perspectives to address mental health needs.
LaTasha served as an AmeriCorps VISTA member at the Westerville Food Pantry, Central Community House, and US Together in Ohio. At the Westerville Food Pantry, she facilitated discreet food access for students and expanded services to include clothing. At Central Community House, she supported small businesses and homeowners, enhancing community resilience. With US Together, she connected low-income immigrants to urban farming and educational resources. Through these roles, LaTasha bridged divides by creating accessible support systems, fostering community engagement, and empowering diverse populations to thrive.
Karen's service at a children’s dental health program in Uliastai, Mongolia, was a testament to the transformative power of empathy and mutual respect. As a Peace Corps Volunteer, she not only addressed urgent dental needs but also bridged cultural and logistical divides. Karen's work with local educators, community leaders, and international volunteers was a clear demonstration of how empathy and mutual respect can transform barriers into opportunities for shared success. This approach brought together a diverse group to deliver crucial care to over 2,100 children.
Shelly served at Red Lake Nation College in northern Minnesota. As an AmeriCorps Tribal VISTA member, she aimed to build community capacity and promote cultural understanding. Along the way, she navigated the complexities of working within tribal contexts, learned to bridge cultural divides by deeply listening, respecting traditions, and successfully engaging both Native and non-Native community members through inclusive and culturally responsive programs.
Julia served at SBP Puerto Rico in San Juan. As an AmeriCorps member, her goal was to lead disaster relief and home reconstruction efforts while bridging divides between English-speaking volunteers and Spanish-speaking homeowners. Along the way, she discovered that by offering salsa dance lessons, she could unite diverse groups—teenagers, veterans, and corporate volunteer teams—with different backgrounds and experiences. This cultural exchange not only fostered understanding and connection but also created a sense of unity, making participants feel included in a larger community.
Reed served with AmeriCorps NCCC at the Pacific Region Campus in Sacramento and later with the California Overdose Prevention Network as an Overdose Prevention Coordinator VISTA. His goal as a VISTA was to tackle the urgent need for effective overdose prevention and support for individuals battling substance use disorders. Reed identified a critical gap: a disconnect between those with firsthand experience of substance use and healthcare providers. He addressed this by openly sharing his journey, which bridged the gap between personal struggles and professional care. This approach transformed perspectives, fostering genuine empathy and collaboration across diverse beliefs and ultimately driving more compassionate, informed community responses.
As an AmeriCorps member at the San Francisco ACCESS Center and the Marin County Public Defender’s Office, Alexia helped individuals navigate legal and reentry challenges. She bridged divides by actively listening to clients' stories, validating their emotional experiences, and providing tailored compassionate support. Her deep empathy allowed her to respect their unique perspectives and address their needs with understanding, thereby facilitating meaningful connections and collaboration. Her approach involved understanding clients’ anxieties and offering practical help, creating a supportive bridge between their past hardships and their journey toward a better future.
Christina served at AmeriCorps in Cle Elum, Washington. At the time, the community was reeling from the devastation caused by the Taylor Bridge and Table Mountain Complex Fires. Her service year experience helped restore the damaged environment. Along the way, she bridged divides by bringing together residents with differing opinions on how to rebuild—some wanted immediate reconstruction, others focused on long-term environmental recovery. Christina also led the establishment of a military memorial, honoring service members and further uniting the community. She listened to each perspective, fostering mutual respect and collaboration, and facilitated a shared vision for recovery.
As an AmeriCorps member at Pontiac High School and the International Technological Academy, Magda helped students with college applications and financial aid while addressing their specific needs. She bridged divides by actively listening to students’ unique challenges—such as those faced by first-generation college students and English language learners—and collaborating with ESL staff to overcome language barriers. Magda organized initiatives like the district’s first-generation week and HBCU awareness month, bringing students, staff, and the broader community together.
About the Service Year Alums Awards
The Service Year Alums Awards celebrate alums across the national service community for their contributions during their service years and beyond. These awards are an opportunity to showcase alums’ contributions through service, highlight the positive impacts they’ve made, and inspire future generations of service year members. For their achievements, award recipients received a $1,000 award prize, as well as recognition at a virtual awards ceremony.
Submissions are closed for 2024. Check back soon for details about the 2025 awards program.
The awards are open to anyone who has completed a service year. There are no age restrictions or geographical limitations. Entries are reviewed by Service Year Alliance staff, service year alums, and other service year champions.
In general, a service year is defined as a paid opportunity to develop real-world workplace skills and civic engagement through hands-on service. Service years address unmet community needs through direct service or indirect “capacity building” for at least 32 hours per week over the course of 9-24 months total. All AmeriCorps, Peace Corps, and YouthBuild positions are considered service years. If you have questions about whether your program qualifies, view Service Year Alliance’s Certification Criteria for service year programs.
Have questions about the Service Year Alums Awards? Whether you're curious about eligibility, the submission process, or what kinds of narratives we're looking for, we’ve got you covered! Head over to our FAQs page to find all the answers you need to ensure your application shines here.
