“When I was completing a service year, I didn’t know that my career would lead me to startups – but in hindsight, the similarities between startups and nonprofits are profound. Both kinds of organizations are trying to change the world in a resource-constrained environment. Both organizations have employees who ‘wear many hats.’ Both organizations have to evaluate difficult tradeoffs between competing priorities. Learning how to be a team player on a small but scrappy team of passionate change-makers was a skillset that I routinely built during my VISTA year.”
In looking to take a gap year in between his studies in Mathematics at Penn State University, Myles Cramer found a mission and opportunity that would change his career trajectory.
In spring 2020, Myles was set to start his first service year with College Mentors for Kids, an organization that pairs young children with young adults and engages them in enrichment activities on college campuses. Instead, the pandemic shut down all in-person programming, requiring the organization to pivot its mentorship model to a new virtual format. Myles’ role as a Data & Evaluation VISTA meant helping his colleagues in the classroom track their impact on students and alumni with data, writing grant applications, and securing in-kind donations to support new needs within the program.
Myles’ service years opened doors for him - personally and professionally - at a time when finding connection was more difficult than ever before. The experience expanded both Myles’ understanding of the types of careers available to someone with a degree in Mathematics, and his sense of community.
“I am grateful to have started my career during the pandemic with service, because it taught me how to connect with others regardless of the physical distance between us…Similarly, VISTA taught me how to build a bigger ‘community’ despite moving multiple times since I started my service.”
Myles continued his service through AmeriCorps with a six month term at a program through Conservation Legacy. Myles developed AI models for the National Park Service (NPS), followed by another 3-month term collecting and analyzing low-altitude aircraft data to preserve the natural soundscape of Badlands National Park in South Dakota. These service year roles led him to pursue a Master’s in Public Administration at The University of Pittsburgh's School of Public & International Affairs, an opportunity made possible in-part by his Segal Education Award and the degree program’s funding match for AmeriCorps Alumni.
Today, Myles’ career focuses on industry partnerships and strategic communications at the intersection of technology and government, a profession he credits to his service years and his continued education made possible by his AmeriCorps benefits.
Beyond his day-to-day professional obligations, Myles continues to give back to his hometown community, including providing pro-bono market research for a major community foundation and connecting teachers with professionals in his network for “virtual career talks” in their high school classrooms.
“I’ve spent the past two years at a tech startup that protects critical everyday infrastructure, and I’ve come to appreciate that this career path combines my service aspirations for making the world a safer place with my passion for solving hard problems.”
About the Service Year Alums Awards
The Service Year Alums Awards recognize 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 and alums from various service year programs across the country.
In 2025, the Service Year Alums Awards are all about celebrating this life-changing experience, recognizing alums who embraced the lessons, skills, and connections gained during their service year to pursue meaningful careers and positively impact their communities.
