Alex Vanik first got involved with service and volunteerism through Scouts, working his way from Cub Scout to Eagle Scout during his K-12 years. “I’ve walked so many paths as a volunteer,” reflects Alex. “The most permanent impact I feel I’ve made would be my Eagle Scout Project. I worked with the PTO to raise funds, purchased materials, and recruited Scout volunteers to construct an outdoor stage at my local elementary school so teachers could use one of their courtyards as an additional classroom space.”

During his undergraduate studies at the College of William & Mary, Alex continued to be an active volunteer, including as a student leader for the Alternative Breaks program. It was on one of those Alternative Breaks that he first learned about AmeriCorps. “I knew it was an opportunity that would make good use of my skills and align with my goals when I applied for a service year position after graduating college,” he recalls.

After serving as an AmeriCorps VISTA within the Virginia Department of Social Services supporting Serve Virginia, Alex joined the Serve Virginia staff where he is currently the State Service Plan Coordinator. “Being an AmeriCorps member with the state’s service commission meant that I got to see and participate in a lot of the high-level and behind the scenes work around AmeriCorps in Virginia,” recalls Alex. “I remember having a public event where I got to sit at the table with program leaders, AmeriCorps staff from the national office, and community members, with my voice as a current member and a young person included in the conversation about why AmeriCorps had value.”

“To me, service means being the resource that my community, or any community I’m working with, needs in order to achieve their goals and enhance their quality of life,” says Alex. Even now that he’s involved in service as a career, Alex remains committed to volunteerism outside of work as well. “I always enjoy volunteering with the local park system,” he says. “There’s a constant need for more hands to help remove invasive species and maintain trails both for the sake of environmental preservation and recreation.”