AmeriCorps Education Award

AmeriCorps is a national service program that engages Americans of all ages and backgrounds in service to address the most critical problems in our nation’s communities.  As a Catholic Volunteer Network member program, Christian Appalachian Project partners with AmeriCorps to develop new projects, offer services in new areas, and offer supplemental services which would not be provided without the service of AmeriCorps Members. Prospective AmeriCorps Members with CAP complete the same application as all potential CAP Volunteers. Not all CAP Volunteer positions are eligible AmeriCorps positions, and not all CAP Volunteers are AmeriCorps Members.

For our 2012-13 volunteer year, we will have at least 33 long-term volunteers and at least 10 summer camp volunteers who will also serve as AmeriCorps Members. Upon the completion of their service, AmeriCorps Members earn an education award to pay back qualified student loans or to finance college, graduate school, or vocational training. AmeriCorps Members are eligible for deferment of qualified student loans during their service term. AmeriCorps also pays the interest accrued on qualified student loans during service terms.

An Education Award can be used in the following ways:

1. To repay qualified existing student (college) loans.
2. To pay all or part of the cost of attending a qualified institution of higher education (including certain vocational programs).
3. To pay expenses incurred while participating in an approved school-to-work program.

The types of Awards offered are:

An AmeriCorps Member must be a U.S. citizen, at least 18 years old, and have a high school diploma. Volunteers enrolling in AmeriCorps are required to present a certified copy of their birth certificate or a valid passport.