June 30, 2003

More than 50 SFSU students will receive educational scholarships this summer in return for their one year of service in California State University AmeriCorps programs.

The scholarships, earned for the students' community-service work in Bay Area nonprofit organizations and K-12 schools, range from $1,000 to $1,250.

The majority of the SFSU scholarship recipients served in AmeriCorps through Jumpstart, a nationwide early-childhood program that pairs college students with preschool children struggling in Head Start and other early education programs. Other students participated in such national service projects as Lake Merced Habitat Restoration and Palo Alto Bayshore Beach Clean-Up. They also volunteered at one of eight schools in Daly City, San Francisco and San Bruno, helping improve students' English, math and science skills.

"I know that the (K-12) students have stepped out of their comfort zones to allow me to tutor and mentor them," said Rebekah Macaset, an AmeriCorps volunteer from SFSU. "It has been a rewarding experience that I plan to continue."

Each SFSU student volunteered for more than 450 hours. They are among more than 1,000 students in the CSU AmeriCorps programs to receive the scholarships, which totaled $1.2 million statewide.

The scholarships come at a time when federal funding for AmeriCorps is uncertain. Congress is currently considering AmeriCorps funding levels, which may be reduced due to the economic recession.

AmeriCorps, created in 1993, is a network of national service programs that engage Americans each year in intensive service to meet critical needs in education, public safety, health and the environment. AmeriCorps members serve through more than 2,100 nonprofits, public agencies and faith-based organizations.

-- Matt Itelson

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Last modified June 30, 2003, by the Office of Public Affairs