AmeriCorps is recruiting college-student mentors to spend the summer weeks helping 3,000 children in rural and low-income West Virginia communities maintain or gain reading skills through Energy Express.

Energy Express is an award-winning, 8-week, summer reading and nutrition program for children living in West Virginia’s rural and low-income communities.

In return for their 300 hours of service, AmeriCorps mentors receive a $1,850 summer living allowance and a $1,175 Segal AmeriCorps Education Award valid for up to seven years to pay for college tuition or loans.

“Our activities help create a special bond between the mentor and the children,” Alicia Cassels, literacy and academic success specialist with West Virginia University’s Extension Service. “This program is designed to help shape the lives of the children the mentors serve, but in the process, we find that the mentors often have a life-changing experience, too.”

The program is designed to provide learning opportunities and nutrition during the summer months, when children are most at risk for falling behind on reading levels – a preventable loss known as the “summer slide.”

Each summer, AmeriCorps engages college-bound graduating high school seniors and currently enrolled college students to serve communities in need. AmeriCorps’ Energy Express mentors must be at least 18 years of age before June 7, 2012.

AmeriCorps mentors will serve in 80 sites across the state from June 7- to July 27.

Energy Express mentors make learning fun for small groups of school-age children by creating a safe, enriching environment focused on reading, writing, art and drama.

In addition to the learning activities, mentors eat nutritious, family-style meals with children, make family visits and complete a community service project.

Applications are available online at www.energyexpress.wvu.edu, or by calling 304-293-3855. The selection process begins March 1. Applications are accepted until all positions are filled.

Energy Express is a program under the leadership of WVU Extension Service’s 4-H Youth Development program. This AmeriCorps program is funded, in part, by grants from the West Virginia Department of Education and the Arts and Volunteer West Virginia. Volunteer West Virginia encourages West Virginians of all ages and abilities to be involved in service to their communities.

Based on the success of Energy Express participants and the unique aspects of the program, the National Center for Summer Learning at Johns Hopkins University named Energy Express program one of the nation’s best summer learning programs in 2009.

For other AmeriCorps and national service opportunities, visit www.americorps.gov. To learn other ways in which WVU Extension Service works in local communities, visit www.ext.wvu.edu.

For more information about becoming a mentor with Energy Express, visit www.energyexpress.wvu.edu, or call 304-293-3855.

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Media contact
Ann Berry
Voice: 304.293.5691
Cell: 304.376.7740
e-mail: ann.berry@mail.wvu.edu

AmeriCorps information
Kim Liston
Voice: 304-293-3855
e-mail: kim.liston@mail.wvu.edu