As we wrap up National Americorp Awareness Week, one local individual gives his personal experience working with the organization.

Jefferson resident Jack Schilling, a recent graduate of Greene County High School, has been with Americorp for about six months. He is with a non-profit group through Iowa State University called “Water Rocks” which deals with soil and water conservation. He says he gets to travel to every part of the state, as well as out of state to South Dakota this past week, doing demonstrations in classrooms and assemblies for kids in kindergarten through eighth grade.

Schilling talks about why he wanted to join Americorp.

“I did it because I wasn’t ready to make the commitment to go to college yet. I still didn’t know what I wanted my degree to be. I figured it would be a good opportunity for me to get some real world experience. I could add something to my resume along the lines, like an application. It’s been working out really well.”

He adds that there is a variety of different programs that people can do with Americorp, such as: literacy with school-age kids, natural disaster relief, food pantries and other groups. Schilling’s program requires him to be in it for one-year and complete 1,700-hours. He will then receive an education award of $6,000 to use towards education.