Community Engagement
Educating yourself may begin with classes, study sessions, books, midterm papers, exams and cram sessions. But that is merely the first step in an amazing opportunity for transformation.
Community Engagement is about becoming involved in real-world experiences that engage WNCC students in the communities in the Western Panhandle of Nebraska and beyond. We provide opportunities for students to bring their academic curriculum to life through community-focused service projects that benefit our local community members and beyond.
Community Service Opportunities
The student organizations on the WNCC campuses are all involved in community service projects. Each student organization sponsors projects and encourage their fellow students to get involved with these opportunities to support our local communities.
WNCC Participating in the Make A Difference Day 2012
Saturday, October 27
Make A Difference Day is celebrated each year on the 4th Saturday in October. Created by USA WEEKEND Magazine, it is the nation’s largest day of volunteering. Together with long-standing partner HandsOn Network, the generosity of Newman’s Own and hundreds of carrier newspapers, USA WEEKEND rallies millions in a single day to help change the world.This year WNCC students, faculty and staff are being encouraged to participate in a community project in the Western Panhandle of Nebraska.
WNCC Participating in Martin Luther King Day of Service
Watch for details on how you and/or your WNCC Student Organization can get involved. If you are interested in helping plan this year's event, please contact Sue Yowell yowells@wncc.edu
2012 Americorps Service Scholar Opportunity
Through our participation in Nebraska Campus Compact students can apply to serve as an Americorp Service Scholar. AmeriCorps Service Scholars The Nebraska Campus Compact in partnership with the Nebraska Children and Families Foundation will provide AmeriCorps service members to address the educational and economic opportunity needs of 12 distressed counties in the stat of Nebraska. This program will promote civic engagement among college students by increasing awareness of identified community needs through service at various host sites and foster positive changes and/or outcomes in the affected communities.
AmeriCorps members will address unmet educational and economic opportunity needs in target communities. Anticipated outcomes are improved K-12 attendance / graduation rates, increase financial literacy among the target population, enhance community partnerships and increase the probability of the student adopting a lifelong commitment to service.
AmeriCorps Service Scholars will be required to complete 300 hours of service over the course of one year.
At the completion of service, members will receive a $1,175.00 education award for future higher education or to pay off existing higher education debts and a $250.00 stipend.
AmeriCorps members will provide direct service at Community Learning Centers and/or afterschool programs in the following Nebraska counties: Adams, Buffalo, Colfax, Dakota, Dawson, Dodge, Douglas, Hall, Knox, Lancaster, Scottsbluff and Thurston. These counties consistently have higher than state average high school dropout rates and levels of unemployment that exceed the state average.
AmeriCorps Service Scholars will provide the following service:
Education Focus Area
Provide academic support to disadvantaged students at community learning center / afterschool program sites
Economic Opportunity Focus Area
Provide financial literacy education to economically disadvantaged individuals (budgeting, credit management, etc.) through community-based organizations or if possible, at community learning center / afterschool program sites.
Assist in providing volunteer income tax assistance (VITA) at NECC member institutions or at community learning center / afterschool program sites.
Applications will be available in September 2012 through the Student services Office
