Kennesaw State University has received more than $169,000 in AmeriCorps funding from the Georgia Commission for Service and Volunteerism (Georgia Serves), enabling more KSU students to make a difference in the community.

The grant will expand Kennesaw State’s Service Fellowship program by doubling the number of participants to 22 students and increasing the number of nonprofit organizations where they can volunteer to 18 organizations.

“I’m really excited for our students and our community as we grow this program and continue to seek ways to improve KSU’s work to benefit all in our communities,” said William Hargrove, assistant director of Student Volunteerism and Service. “I’m grateful to AmeriCorps and Georgia Serves for this opportunity to bring positions of national service to our communities.”

The KSU AmeriCorps Service Fellowship spans the fall and spring semesters, during which students commit to serving 10 to 20 hours a week with a nonprofit agency. Participants are matched with organizations based on their interests, skills, and career goals, allowing the program to benefit the students and maximize their impact on their assigned organizations.

Hargrove noted that the majority of the grant funding will be used to compensate Kennesaw State students for their time serving with nonprofits, highlighting the importance of paying students for their contributions while they balance their academic responsibilities.

This grant will allow a more direct involvement with both students and nonprofit partners as it helps AmeriCorps members address some of Georgia’s toughest challenges, including education, economic opportunities, health, homelessness, support for people living with disabilities, financial literacy, and environmental issues.