BVU's AmeriCorps Receives $96,020 Grant from Iowa Campus Compact

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Buenafication Day Students

STORM LAKE, IA (07/30/2018) (readMedia)-- Buena Vista University (BVU) has received a $96,020 grant from Iowa Campus Compact (IACC) on behalf of Volunteer Iowa to support the University's AmeriCorps program.

Volunteer Iowa approved nearly $1 million in funding to IACC, representing the largest ever award for the organization. BVU's portion of the funding will be used to:

• Support 26 AmeriCorps student members: One full-time and 25 part-time, including Education for Service Scholars and the Education for Service Scholars coordinator.
• Enhance professional development funds for all members.
• Provide funding for the annual Buenafication Day.
• Support $37,220 in education award funding for the 26 members.

Dr. Ashley Farmer-Hanson, interim vice president of student affairs and dean of students, says, "Iowa Campus Compact has been a wonderful partner with us for more than a decade. We were one of the first college host sites for the AmeriCorps program in Iowa." Many Iowa College AmeriCorps members serve more than 300 annual hours planning events, programs, and recruiting volunteers to serve in local nonprofits across the state. Full-time members support campuses in implementing their Civic Action Plans and programs such as BVU's Education for Service Scholars program, which provides service experiences and ten annual, full-tuition scholarships to first-generation students in Buena Vista County.

Executive director of IACC Emily Shields says, "Iowa Campus Compact has a long-standing partnership with Buena Vista University to engage students, staff, and faculty with communities to improve learning and outcomes for all. This grant provides us the opportunity to pilot an innovative approach to engage first generation college students in a way that contributes to their success and allows them to share their unique talents and skills with others." The Iowa College AmeriCorps Program, created by IACC in 2007, includes 85 part-time college students and nine full-time members, building capacity for campus-community partnerships and another 85 members supporting summer reading programs statewide.

BVU students are selected to be a part of the AmeriCorps program through an application and interview process in hopes that they may help meet critical needs in education, public safety, health, homeland security, the environment, and more. "Through our partnership with IACC, we have been able to strengthen our program by serving more students and community partners in northwest Iowa. We are looking forward to continuing this partnership and finding ways to serve Iowans in ways we haven't before," says Farmer-Hanson.

About Buena Vista University

Since 1891, Buena Vista University has prepared students for lifelong success and blends liberal arts with real-world applications. Our traditional campus on the shores of Storm Lake hosts students in a variety of majors and pre-professional programs, including elementary, secondary, and special education; business and accounting; and biological and chemical sciences. Our 16 degree-completion locations, online, and graduate programs expand student potential with a pace and academic rigor designed for working adults and a variety of class formats that make scheduling even more convenient. With an average scholarship of more than 50 percent off of tuition, BVU is an affordable option for all students. Visit www.bvu.edu.

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