Sponsored by the College's Mercy Center, the Mercy Service Corps is a student group based around performing community service. Some students fill Federal Work-Study positions, some are working toward AmeriCorps or other scholarships, and some are strictly volunteers who have a passion for helping out their community. The Service Corps functions as a unit with similar goals, meeting as a group periodically for orientation, training, and reflection. Each member is assigned a particular project or community partner for the year and is responsible for arranging a regular weekly service schedule. Since Service Corps members are expected to recruit and host new volunteers at their site, all workers must be van certified or have a vehicle to bring other students to their community partner (the service site). Members are also expected to help with major service events throughout the academic year.
Openings are limited and priority is given to students who have demonstrated an interest in service and leadership. But even if you haven’t had much experience in the past, the Mercy Service Corps provides plenty of opportunities for service.
AmeriCorps Education Award Program
- “AmeriCorps Ed Awards” include a variety of service-scholarship programs. Though details vary from program to program, in general, these typically involve 300 hours of service in a one-year period and pay over $1000 at the end of service in the form of a voucher which can be applied to tuition at college or graduate school.
- Applications are available for NEW AmeriCorps opportunities! Contact Kathryn at x7794 if you're interested in "Great Strides," which involves working with youth in nearby rural areas, or the "Multilingual Leadership Corps" that functions to assist others learning English.
- For more details about how you can use the Segal Education award please visit the AmeriCorps website.
Federal Work-Study Program
- The program is open to full- or part-time matriculated undergraduate students who demonstrate financial need, with priority shown to previous participants. Up to four years of full-time study can be granted, given similar financial need and satisfactory academic progress.
- Generally, awards range from $1,000 to $1,500.
- Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is required by priority deadline for full consideration.
- Work study, other student employment positions, the handbook, etc., are updated in August and early September for the coming year.
- For more information see the US Department of Education website.
Contact Us
Kathryn Cody Russell
Director of Mercy Center
207-893-7794
kcody@sjcme.edu