ISSUE TWO
AmeriCorps NCCC Southern Region Newsletter
NCCC PAST & PRESENT
RESPOND. TO DISASTER
CONGRATULATIONS CLASS 20A | ALUMNI SPOTLIGHT | TEAM REVEAL | DAY OF SERVICE 1
IN THIS ISSUE:
TRADITIONAL MEMBER STATEMENT: I’m a member of the National Civilian Community Corps, an AmeriCorps Program. N-Triple-C members are 18 to 24 and spend 10 months getting things done for America while developing their own leadership. We serve on teams to help communities prepare for and respond to disasters, build homes, and help the environment. To learn more or apply, visit NATIONALSERVICE.GOV/NCCC or call 1.800.942.2677
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NEW ALUMNI SCHOLARSHIP
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IT’S OUR BIRTHDAY
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CLASS 20A SEND OFF
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ALUMNI SPOTLIGHT
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TEAM REVEAL
10-12 FEMA CORPS MEMBER STATEMENT: The Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS) have launched an innovative partnership to establish a FEMA-devoted unit of 1,600 service corps members within AmeriCorps National Civilian Community Corps (NCCC) solely devoted to disaster preparedness, response, and recovery.
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STORIES FROM DISASTER CHOOSE FEMA CORPS STORIES FROM DISASTER
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DAY OF SERVICE
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FROM THE FIELD
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NOW HIRING
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MEMBER DEVELOPMENT
STAY CONNECTED
SOUTHERN REGION COMMUNITY RELATIONS OFFICE: Erica E. Wilson, Community Relations Specialist (CRS) Phone: 601.630.4048 ● Email: ewilson@cns.gov Kevin Jones, Community Relations Associate (CRA) Phone: 769.203.1904 ● Email: kjones@cns.gov Matthew Payne, Community Relations Support Team Leader (CRSTL) Phone: 769.203.1923 ● Email: deltacrsunit@gmail.com
Southern Heat is a monthly newsletter edited and designed by Matthew Payne, CRSTL
FRONT & BACK PHOTO: Front: AmeriCorps Alum Alan Richardson (class 19 North Central Campus) and currently serving Southern Region Corps member Jesse Gottlob of River 5 while responding to tornadoes in Tupelo, MS. Back: CM Cameron Tingkang of Delta 1 picking debris from field.
CLICK HERE FOR THE LATEST NCCC & FEMA CORPS DEPLOYMENT REPORT. 2
Concordia University, St. Paul Offers a $5,000 Scholarship for AmeriCorps Alumni In what’s believed to be the first and
three feel well-equipped with professional resources to
most
its
transition after AmeriCorps. Partnerships with schools
kind, Concordia University, St. Paul in
like Concordia University, St. Paul help Alums take the
Minnesota has announced today that
next step in their professional journey.” AmeriCorps
it will extend a $5,000 scholarship to
Alums published a May 2014 report entitled Untapped
any AmeriCorps alumni accepted into any of their un-
Potential which outlined the professional development
dergraduate or graduate programs. This benefit for
needs and career aspirations that the national service
domestic service is the broadest example yet of how
alumni network possess. The report also found that
the higher education community is competing over
alumni see their AmeriCorps service as a way to serve
talented young people who serve in AmeriCorps, and
their country, and that AmeriCorps was their first
the critical 21st century skills in teamwork, project
chance to engage with Americans from different back-
management, facilitation, and communication that are
grounds. Expanding institutional partnerships and cre-
developed in their service year.
ating service to career pipelines is a significant goal for
far-reaching
offer
of
Over 120 Title I
schools currently provide some benefit to domestic national service alumni, whether through an application waiver, scholarship, or matching grant to individuals who complete an AmeriCorps term of service. AmeriCorps Alums, the national nonprofit network for the nearly one million Americans who have served domestically since 1994, notes that this accelerating trend is especially exciting in light of the upcoming 20th anniversary of AmeriCorps in September.
AmeriCorps Alums.
“As an institution dedicated to service-minded students, Concordia University, St. Paul highly values AmeriCorps members for their interest in service and the professional skill development and work experience that they gained through AmeriCorps and bring to our university,” states Kim Craig, Director of Enrollment Management at Concordia University, St. Paul. “We are very excited to offer AmeriCorps Alums a
Ben Duda, Co-Executive Director of AmeriCorps Al-
$5,000 scholarship which can be used on any bache-
ums, remarked, “This is a wonderful endorsement of
lor’s or master’s level program.” Concordia University,
the talent that chooses to serve our country, and then
St. Paul has identified AmeriCorps national service as a
has incredible potential to lead in our communi-
key talent pipeline, in part because of the many high
ties. We’re very thankful that our partners at Concor-
impact nonprofits in Minneapolis and St. Paul that
dia University, St. Paul are investing in college comple-
graduate AmeriCorps members annually from pro-
tion and degree advancement, so that alumni of
grams like Minnesota Reading Corps, Serve Minnesota
AmeriCorps can continue to evolve into the leaders
and College Possible.
our country needs right now.” “Our 2014 national survey unveiled that 3 in 4 alums want a career that impacts the world, but only two in
L E A R N M O R E A T A M E RI C O R P S AL U M S . O R G O R V I SI T W W W . C S P . E D U
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CLASS XX
T E A M L E AD E R O F T H E Y E A R , E R I N T R O E D SO N
CHECK OUT THEIR SLIDESHOW
OPS SAYS GOODBYE TO THEIR STL, DARIN
http://youtu.be/Hm-zHj8C_b8
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9 years later, an Alum reflects. WITH JARRAD PLANTE, returning member of the Southern Region Alumni Leadership Council.
WHY DID YOU JOIN NCCC? I joined AmeriCorps NCCC for several reasons—first, I wanted to serve with a team of like minded people, I wanted to travel and meet new people and learn new cultures, I wanted to work with difference nonprofit organizations, and I wanted to learn new skills. WHAT WAS YOUR FAVORITE ASPECT OF NCCC? Unexpectedly, serving with someone on my team that became my “teammate for life.” WHAT WAS IT LIKE SERVING IN NCCC? It was like an extended version of an alternative
spring break trip, which is how I found out about NCCC, by serving with two teams in Anniston, AL on the Jimmy Carter Project with Habitat for Humanity and inspired me to join the service movement.
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WHAT WAS YOUR MOST INTERESTING PROJECT? WHAT MADE IT INTERESTING?
WHAT SKILLS DID YOU GAIN AS AN NCCC MEMBER?
I learned how to tile floor, use (Cindy) loppers during
The most interesting project was working with Fish
beautification projects, facia, vinyl siding, traditional
and Wildlife on removing fencing around some
shingles and metal roofing, F&J channels, and hurri-
property that the agency just purchased in the lower
cane straps with Habitat for Humanity-helping to keep
Florida Keys. Removing the fence granted access to
the houses together during Hurricane Katria
rare fresh water that Key Deer need to survive. WHAT WAS THE MOST CHALLENGING ASPECT OF YOUR SERVICE YEAR?
HOW DID YOU OVERCOME THAT CHAL-
LENGE?
The most challenging project was working with the Nature Conservancy to do trail work at Radnar Lake in Nashville, TN. We mulched and, in some spots,
ANY WORDS OF ADVICE FOR CURRENT MEMBERS? Be open to everything that you participate in and learn from, be flexible, embrace everything and everyone, get ready for the best year of your life...to date. WHERE ARE YOU NOW IN LIFE AND HOW DID AMERICORPS AFFECT YOUR LIFE PATH?
laid down stone dust for over 1 mile of trail in five
I am working on a doctorate (EdD) in Educational
weeks...talk about exhausting!
Leadership and Policy Studies for Higher Education. I
CAN YOU TELL US A STORY IN WHICH YOU LEARNED SOMETHING ABOUT YOURSELF THROUGH SERVICE?
I learned that despite it being hard, I could actually
live away from friends and family that I grew up.
was able to utilize my Ed award to pay the rest of my Master's degree, CNP, and transition two classes from the CNP into my doctoral coursework. ANYTHING ELSE YOU’D LIKE TO ADD?
That came in handy when I moved to Orlando, FL
I believe that ALL Americans should serve their coun-
from Massachusetts only 2.5 years ago.
try and pay it forward for the next generation.
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JENNIFER LIEB, ABOUT TO GREET HER NEW TEAM
TEAM MEETS FOR THE FIRST TIME
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2 TL KENDALL UYEHARA
0 1 TL KEVIN TURNER
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TL KYLE CLAYTON MEETS HIS NEW TEAM
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In the late Spring of 2014, a string of deadly tornadoes touched down and wrought havoc on Tupelo, Mississippi and surrounding rural communities. Soon after, Southern Region NCCC & FEMA Corps teams were deployed to respond in multiple capacities not limited to debris removal, disaster survivor assistance, chainsaw clean-up, home demolition, and more supporting disaster relief organizations such as NECHAMA: Jewish Response to Disaster, All Hands Volunteers and FEMA: The Federal Emergency Management Agency. NCCC Teams worked with many volunteers and community leaders, but perhaps most remarkable was the presence of NCCC alumni, working side by side with current members fulfilling their pledge to carry their commitment to service “this year and beyond.” The following are stories and reflections from currently serving Corps members and Team Leaders as well as NCCC alumni who responded to Mississippi’s latest disaster.
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hree weeks ago, our FEMA Corps
CM Mark O’Brien
team got a call that we were needed in Mississippi to help after an EF-3 tornado had ripped through the state. Four hours later, our team was loaded (nice and tight) in our van and on the road. And two days of driving and training later, we arrived in Tupelo to begin conducting outreach to the survivors of the tornado on behalf of FEMA.
Our team worked three weeks straight but we wouldn’t have had it any other way. We went door to door to reach survivors and we found ourselves sweaty, stinky, sleepy, grumpy, and a mix of all three, but at the end of every single day it’s been a good day because we know
“It was like I was back in NCCC seeing the team work, go-
that each of us has helped at least one
ing through ups and downs, and of course the inside jokes.
person start rebuilding their life after the
It was interesting to see what it was like on the “other side
tornado.
of the fence” All in all, I was so happy to work with NCCC
Tupelo has been a town that truly brings
again.”
to life the truth about Southern Hospitality.
Everyone
walking/driving/biking
waves to each other and asks how you are that day. Everyone we have come
-Alan Richardson Alumni, Class 19, North Central Region
into contact with has been very welcoming to our team and beyond grateful for the work we’ve done. Community members provided us with meals, bought us snacks in line at the drug store, invited us to picnics/BBQs, given us water on scorching hot days, and given us enough ‘thank yous’ to last us a lifetime. And the residents of Tupelo have shown an outpouring of love to their neighbors and have been willing to help with any needs they may have. SOUTHERN HOSPITALITY IS REAL Y’ALL. Continued on Page 12 >>>
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The heart of what we’ve been accomplishing here is plain and simple. We’re here for the survivors – to make sure
they’re safe, to ensure they have safe housing, medical attention, food, clothing, and any other unmet needs they may have, and finally to get them registered with FEMA for any additional assistance they may require. We’re here to ensure that the survivor gets the help they need to rebuild their life after this tornado. We’re here to change their lives by giving them strength, advice, and support….but the people of Tupelo are so strong and grateful that it feels like we are the ones whose lives have changed from this experience and we should be the grateful ones.
Bridget Whittredge
TL Sara Pearson
D
uring the first two weeks of round 2, Delta 4
was hard at work in Itawamba County Mississippi helping the community recover from the devastating tornados that hit on April 28th 2014. This tornado destroyed homes and farms that are a huge source of revenue for community members. Our team worked alongside River 6 and volunteers with All Hands and the Jewish disaster response team NECHAMA, to help with cleanup. We certainly got things done for America. From demolishing unsound structures to clearing debris and fallen trees from properties. This was the first time the majority of our team had done disaster relief and no one was sure what to expect. We didn't know we would be welcomed with so much gratitude and hospitality. The homeowners worked alongside us everyday and then proceeded to cook the volunteers massive amounts of the best southern cooking you can imagine. They were so
Coast 5
CM Jay Brown
thankful for the help and we were so thankful to be there to help. We learned a lot about the impacts of tornadoes, the disaster relief process as a whole, and the impact we can have when people of diverse backgrounds work together to help these communities. Even the less glamorous projects like removing debris from wheat fields in the blazing sun are necessary because if a family cannot harvest their crops, they cannot make enough money to feed their families, let alone rebuild after a disaster. It's good to
know why we do this work so we can understand the importance of it. Although the work has been hard at times, we are all so thankful to be here and to be able to help these gracious communities. This disaster was a tragedy but we really enjoyed our time working, learning, and getting to know each remarkable family. It was truly a life changing experience that has shaped our AmeriCorps experience in a positive way.
Frankie Stroud
Delta 4 12
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B
eing a FEMA Corps alum, I have worked on
multiple disasters including Superstorm Sandy and the Colorado Floods. This was my first experience working on tornado relief and the first time I had been able to help out in a more hands on environment. I had a very positive experience that provided me with many memories. One memory that sticks out to me is when I was clearing debris from a woman’s yard after her trailer was demolished. While sorting through her be-
longings I found things such as her husband’s draft card from the Vietnam War and pictures of her children. This made me realize that each item
TL Matt Payne
is more than just debris. We were picking up valuable pieces of memories that are truly meaningful to survivors. It’s easy to look at demolished homes on the news and then go back to your
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here is nothing like getting called into an office
normal life without giving these people a second
and being told “you’re being deployed to lead a team
thought, but when you are physically helping sur-
of 13, responding to tornado damage North of here.
vivors piece their lives back together one
You need to be on the road in 3 hours.” I got that as-
memory at a time, it makes the pain and devasta-
signment on my 22nd birthday. I wasn’t so much wor-
tion real. Even though my team and I were work-
ried about my cancelled dinner reservations as much as
ing 6 to 7 days a week, it did not feel like work. I
I was about suddenly being responsible for the lives of
am passionate about this work because there is
13 other people, after all, I had never lead a team be-
so much beauty in watching communities come
fore. This was showtime, and although I had the train-
together for the greater good of each person
ing, I was nervous. In the end, I had no reason to be.
regardless of their backgrounds or even national-
The following 18 days, while physically and emotionally
ities. It is our duty as humans to help each other
exhausting, ended up holding some of the most treas-
when we are most vulnerable. The community in
ured and formative experiences of my life. Hours upon
Itawamba County Mississippi consists of the most
hours of chain sawing in the southern heat or bagging
gracious and generous people I have ever met. I
up what seemed to be endless amounts of itchy pink
also had the pleasure to meet a local family who I
home insulation had a funny way of not being a bother
still keep in contact with today that has made an
when you were able to meet the family whose lives you
everlasting impression on my heart. After this
were helping piece back together. Seeing the impact
powerful experience, Mississippi will always be a
my Corps members and I left on that rural community
special place for me.
filled me with pride, but perhaps most importantly,
Sara Pearson
witnessing the courage and gratitude of those whom Delta 4
we were serving restored my faith in humanity.”
Matt Payne
River Composite Team Leader 15
Planning a day of
service.
A reflection from the event coordinator, Emily Baker.
are doing so much to revitalize and support their communities; orchestrating this service day has allowed me the opportunity to connect more personally with so many of the individuals behind the organizations. But most importantly, I wanted to make this a special day for the teams. They are the heart of the program and
As
this is the first time that our new FEMA Corps teams have to be their own unit, and work with a sponsor, and get that a Support Team Leader,
glimpse of what the rest of their term will
I don't get out in the field much. One
look like. So when choosing organiza-
could say that I tend to live vicariously
tions, I made sure they were projects that
through teams when they serve. Addi-
I wanted to work on.
tionally, it's more challenging to get that visual and instant gratification from the work I do than from building a trail, painting a wall or assisting in a disaster. I enjoy tackling new projects and putting energy into what I'm passionate about. Having
I especially enjoyed being able to work with the other Team Leaders and Corps members, talking about what they like
about service and why they've chosen AmeriCorps.
been in Mississippi for nearly two years,
It's days like these that remind me why I
I'm familiar with many of the organiza-
serve, and why AmeriCorps is so im-
tions in the area. I know there is great
portant for communities. Seeing the grat-
need in the Delta, and all the non-profits
itude, the passion and the joy that comes from service is what keeps me coming back. And it's just as wonderful from the behind the scenes as well.
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Members reflect... Malik Shaw
Summit 4
and the other tending to be over-
A 7 AM drive to Jackson, Mississip-
grown hedges. The senescent
pi to help refurbish an old grave-
grime, that could only pollute
yard sounds, upon first acknowl-
such a place wherein the passing
edgement, like some sort of pun-
of time is tangible, covered the
ishment,
headstones,
but
the
experience
concealing
names
proved itself to be quite the con-
and years long passed. In clean-
trary. Upon arriving at the site we
ing these tombstones one can
were greeted by three elderly vol-
account for the illustrious history
unteer caretakers, whom without,
of this state capital. The head of
the task would have been impossi-
restoration, a Ms. Cecile Ward-
ble. The surprisingly spry 84-year-
law, has a family plot that holds
old man, whose appearance and
five generations, from her great-
jovial disposition was reminiscent
great-grandfather to her brother,
of present day Jimmy Carter, took
adjacent to the final resting place
the three young men of the group
of the first African-American sec-
about the grounds to cut down
retary of state of Mississippi, John
trees. His folksy epigrams on yard-
D. Lynch. What can be ultimately
work and a life spent in Jackson
said about our trip to Greenwood
gave the work a lighthearted tone
Cemetery is that it proved to be
that seemed to ease the transition
pleasant, informative and provid-
of the day. We were split into two
ed genuine perspective on both
groups, one washing headstones
the past and contemporary living
in Jackson, Mississippi.
Danna Kasom
Bayou 5
For the All Corps service day we traveled to Jackson, Mississippi to volunteer at the Jackson Public School District. We specifically helped unpack, unload, set up, and organize what became a store full of supplies, donated from local businesses and organizations. Teachers will be able to go to the store and get supplies and incentives for themselves and students for free. This was made possible through Partners In Education (PIE), which connects the school
with
the
community
through several programs. We had a great time helping out and making the store organized and pop with excitement of the upcoming school year!
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R
iver Six has had a life changing two weeks
here in Itawamba County. We are all regretful that this disaster affected such a beautiful community, but are thankful through and through that we were given the opportunity to help restore it. The people of Itawamba have made us feel at home and a part of this family and we will be sad to leave them. Our team has grown parTL Nichole Letizia
ticularly fond of one couple, Mike and Marty, who we worked with at their home. We were
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briefed with the rest of the All Hands Volunteers and NECHAMA crew and were told the entirety hile deployed on my team’s first round,
I experienced firsthand the devastation of a tornado. With only a few days left in Tupelo, MS working with the Natchez Trace Parkway an F-3 tornado touched down in west Tupelo wreaking havoc in Tupelo, Itawamba and Louisville. The following day Delta 7 was called to respond to the disaster in Itawamba where we set up a dis-
aster response center where all donations, volunteers and aide were to be coordinated from. As part of a composite team we worked with All Hands Volunteers assisting in response, work orders for aide request, demos, debris removal, collecting personal items and even paperwork. If we were called to help we responded in any way we could. The community we helped in welcomed us in with open arms and considered us family. They fed us all daily and even invited us to their homes for bon fires. The experience I gained in Itawamba County, MS is on that I will never forget. It is a wonderful and strange feeling to know if I ever return, I have friends, a place to stay and a warm bed to sleep in. The
of the house needed to be demolished. We disassembled the fixtures, cabinets, dry wall, brick façade, windows and doors. The house became a skeleton right before our eyes in the matter of two days. Mike and Marty were two of the strongest hardest working people I’ve ever met and their gratitude for the work we put in rendered us all speechless at the end of the day, when Mike broke down in tears in what was his kitchen and thanked us immensely before excusing himself. Their determination to overcome this “test” as they called it is what helped drive us all to work harder for them and gave all the volunteers a reason to push harder to complete the project. I will never forget Mike and Marty or the looks on their face as they discussed plans on how to improve their next home with their gen-
eral contractor that stopped by to see our progress. They looked at each other with hope, love and eyes that could see the potential and the good that could be once again. AmeriCorps NCCC, All Hands and NECHAMA made that a possibility.
people of Itawamba have become more than friends, they are family.
Daniel Deitch
Nichole Letizia
River 6
Delta 7
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orking on the disaster compo-
site team was a memory of a lifetime. Seeing such a big impact the tornadoes made in those rural areas was devastating. The work we put into the cleaning homes gave me a feeling of hope I never felt before. To know that even though these people lost everything they have we were able to make it a possible to rebuild and restart their lives in some way. I think that anyone who has the opportunity to experience disaster recovery should take the opportunity and won't regret it.
“As an alumni, working with NCCC was a truly refreshing experience. It was awesome to see how hard everyone was working and
-Adrianna Howard River 3
how great of an impression was left on the community. Getting to work with 4 different teams, and seeing the dynamics of each team was really so interesting. It was fun to compare them to the
experience that I had in class 19. All in all it's cool to see that no matter which campus, which class, which team or which corps member, we all share the common goal of getting things done for America and truly making a difference in people's lives.�
-Nicolette Koerner Alumni, Class 19, North Central Region
CM Will Custus being fed by community member
CM Jesse Gottlob 19
FROM THE FIELD...
RIVER 1 | YOUTH INC | FLORIDA
RIVER 6 | DIGGING TRENCH | WV
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MAKE SERVICE YOUR FULL-TIME JOB. WE’RE HIRING. VISIT WWW.USAJOBS.GOV, KEYWORD NCCC.
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Non-traditional
Holy cow! I get the question, “Can I use my ed. award for something other than school?” a lot. You tricky buggers-you know this money is solely supposed to go toward education. It HAS to go to a title IV institution. But, alas, let me help you out a bit if you have this question. There are a few things you can do with your ed. award that aren’t the “traditional education” route. Here it goes…
Volunteer experiences around the world. The reason the ed. award can be used for this is because it is through the University of Albany which is a title IV institution. http://www.globalservicecorps.org/
Outdoor leadership programs like sailing & dog sledding. http://www.outwardbound.org/
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Best Colleges Providing Free Tuition 1 Deep Springs College 2 Cooper Union 3 Curtis Institute of Music 4 College of the Ozarks 5 Berea College 6 Webb Institute 7 Macaulay Honors College at City University of New York (CUNY) 8 Alice Lloyd College 9 Barclay College More information: http://www.usnews.com/education/best-colleges/payingfor-college/articles/2013/09/18/colleges-that-claim-to-meet -full-financial-need-2014 http://www.thebestschools.org/blog/2012/12/10/20colleges-providing-free-tuition/
Upcoming Professional & Career Development Virtual Events Virtual Speed Networking
Virtual Grad School Fair #1
20th Annual Virtual Celebration
Virtual Grad School Fair #2
Thursday 8/28
Friday 9/5
Friday 9/12
Tuesday 9/23
6:00 PM to 7:15 PM Eastern
12:00 PM to 3:00 PM Eastern
12:00 PM to 1:00 PM Eastern
6:00 PM to 8:30 PM Eastern
Go to www.americorpsalums.org for more information. 23
The latest from the Southern Region:
FACEBOOK.COM/AMERICORPSNCCCSOUTHERN
Are you Interested in submitting an article or photos for the next issue of Southern Heat? Email ideas, comments or concerns to Matt Payne at: deltacrsunit@gmail.com.
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