Lt. Gov. Craig Campbell Swears in New AmeriCorps Volunteers

As I went to the Capitol this afternoon, I saw this crowd getting ready to take pictures.  It turned out to be new AmeriCorps volunteers from around the US being inducted by Alaska's Lt. Governor Craig Campbell.  They don't have their assignments yet, but they are headed all over Alaska. 

From the AmeriCorps website:

This year AmeriCorps will provide more than  400 individuals the opportunity to provide intensive, results-driven service to meet education, environmental, health, economic and other pressing needs in communities across Alaska.  Most AmeriCorps grant funding goes to the Governor-appointed Serve Alaska, which in turn awards grants to nonprofit groups to respond to local needs.  Most of the remainder of the grant funding is distributed by the Corporation directly to multi-state and national organizations through a competitive grants process.  Other individuals will serve through AmeriCorps VISTA, whose members help bring individuals and communities out of poverty by servingfull-time to fight illiteracy, improve health services, create businesses and increase housing opportunities, and AmeriCorps NCCC (National Civilian Community Corps), a 10-month, full time residential program for men and women between the ages of 18 and 24.   In exchange for their service, AmeriCorps members earn an education award that can be used to pay for college or to pay back qualified student loans.  Since 1994, more than  3,100 Alaska residents have served more than 4 million hours and have qualified for Segal AmeriCorps Education Awards totaling more than  $7,400,000.