The UNK Office for Service-Learning, in partnership with the Kearney Public Schools Foundation, serves as contact for the Rural Corps of South Central Nebraska: An AmeriCorps Program. Positions are linked with service-learning efforts under the direction of the UNK Office for Service-Learning. United States citizens, interested and willing to serve, must be 18 years old or older, may be students of any institution or members of the community.
Currently the grant has 20 positions for Members, serving at 3 host sites as follows: 9 positions at Kearney Public Schools; 9 positions with the Kearney Community Learning Center/Before & After School programs; and 2 with the UNK Office for Service-Learning. Most positions are quarter-time, consist of 450 hours and are to be completed between September 1, 2012 - ending August 31, 2013. AmeriCorps Members will serve to meet specific needs of children and youth living in disadvantaged circumstances, or struggling in the classroom with language or other issues.
Members serving will receive a small monthly stipend and an educational award at the end of their service.. Once a member has successfully completed the agreed on term of service, the educational award is available to help members pay for authorized educational expenses or to repay qualified student loans. **Members 55 or older may choose to transfer their educational award to a child, grandchild or foster child.
These AmeriCorps positions are funded by the Federal Government, through the Corporation for National and Community Service and are made available in Nebraska through ServeNebraska, the Nebraska Volunteer Service Commission.
The following is a listing of position sizes and number of service hours for AmeriCorps positions. Each comes with a small stipend and an Educational Award at the end of the service.
- Half Time 900 hours --- $6,000 stipend Ed Award - $2,775
- Quarter Time 450 hours --- $2,000 stipend Ed Award - $1,468
- Minimum Time 300 hours --- $1,000 stipend Ed Award - $1,175
Specific positions, stipends, and host site information is located at: ruralcorps.org
Applications may be submitted at: americorps.gov
Select - State and National Program, in Nebraska, apply to the Rural Corps Project.
UNK Office for Service-Learning, email: stirtzg@unk.edu