UArizona expands its commitment to AmeriCorps alumni

Beginning in Fall 2022, the University of Arizona will provide new benefits to incoming students who are AmeriCorps alumni through the School of National Service scholarship program.

"The University of Arizona has a long commitment to service and civic-engagement, making it a clear choice for service-minded students like AmeriCorps alumni," said Kasey Urquidez, Vice President for Enrollment Management and Dean of Undergraduate Admissions. "As an Arizona land grant institution, we take pride in our community-engaged learning for our students that provides mutual benefit to organizations within the region and state.”

UArizona offers three different scholarships to AmeriCorps alumni

Preference for both scholarships will be given to those who have served with the AmeriCorps UArizona Wildcat Corps program. Undergraduate students that qualify can apply to one or both of these opportunities. Applications will be available in January 2022 for the 2022-2023 academic school year.

Additionally, the UArizona Graduate College will continue to provide up to a $5,000 fellowship match to the Segal AmeriCorps Education Award for up to three students newly admitted to a graduate degree program at the university.

UArizona is one of only four universities or colleges in Arizona named as a School of National Service for their commitment to AmeriCorps alumni.

“We are excited that this new benefit will recognize the service of our AmeriCorps, Wildcat Corps Members who have been supporting Arizona communities throughout the state,” explained Ed Martin, Interim Director of Cooperative Extension. Martin, who oversees the AmeriCorps program for Arizona Cooperative Extension along with Dan McDonald, said, “in just the last three years, Wildcat Corps members have been placed in 55 different programs in 13 counties and 3 tribal communities, with nearly 50,000 youth receiving AmeriCorps supported programming.”

"The Governor's Office of Youth, Faith and Family (GOYFF) administers approximately $6.8 million in federal funding to support 24 AmeriCorps Programs throughout the State of Arizona, including UArizona Extension. These programs will engage over 1,000 AmeriCorps members this year to meet critical community needs in the areas of education, economic opportunity and environmental stewardship to name a few," according to Maria Fuentes, Director of GOYFF.

Christina Lipin, senior program coordinator for the Wildcat Corps program described the importance of AmeriCorps members during the pandemic. “The deep connection to local communities perhaps has never been clearer as service sites had to quickly pivot and adapt to the realities of a global pandemic. Some Wildcat Corps members were even able to support the statewide vaccination effort through serving part or all of their service at the UArizona Vaccination Point of Distribution site and other vaccination sites throughout the state.” 

AmeriCorps alumni are students with experience, leadership skills, problem-solving experience, and a commitment to civic engagement. Schools of National Service connects these leaders with higher-education institutions that seek to recognize those qualities and honor the service they’ve provided to their community and country. By participating in the program, colleges, universities, and other post-secondary institutions benefit by attracting AmeriCorps alumni to enroll in their institutions.

The benefits members receive through the Schools of National Service can be combined with the Segal AmeriCorps Education Award earned by AmeriCorps members who successfully complete their terms of service.  The Segal Education Award can be used to pay educational expenses at eligible post-secondary institutions, including many technical schools and G.I. Bill-approved programs, or to repay qualified student loans. The education award is equal to the maximum amount of the U.S. Department of Education Pell Grant, currently approximately $6,400.