Miriam Farris
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Abbey Pence

Story of Service: Abbey Pence

Abbey Pence is an AmeriCorps member serving as a first-year Virginia College Advising Corps (VCAC) adviser at Cumberland High School.   Abbey discovered VCAC and AmeriCorps while she was in high school, where she was supported by a VCAC adviser. Combining that experience with her current service, she has a unique understanding of the impact and opportunity that national service can have on those who receive support from AmeriCorps members—as well as the members themselves. "My biggest tip that I would give to any recent graduate looking at what's next for them is to try something that may be out...
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Samantha Bradley

Story of Service: Samantha Bradley

Teaming Up with an AmeriCorps Member to Make Her Dream of a Military Career Come True Teresa Thompson, an AmeriCorps member with the Carroll County Public Schools Lift Up AmeriCorps and winner of the 2015 Robert E. Wone Award, recently shared an inspirational story about the impact of national service on a young person in her program. Teresa says student Samantha Bradley described herself in the past as a troubled teenager, but completely changed her outlook after the birth of her son. Working up to three jobs in addition to attending school where she excelled in her school work, Determined...
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Dr. Sheila Williamson-Branch

Story of Service: Dr. Sheila Williamson-Branch

Having offered years of service and expertise to Serve Virginia, Dr. Sheila Williamson-Branch is the outgoing Vice Chair of the Governor's Advisory Board on Service and Volunteerism (GAB), serving as a Board member since 2018. "I’ve thoroughly enjoyed my time serving on the GAB as a committee chair, reviewer of grants, and as Vice Chair," reflects Sheila. "Meeting and learning about the many programs Serve Virginia was involved with was most enlightening. Serving on the board allowed me to be a part of an organization that truly cares about non-profit organizations and the communities they serve." Sheila first became involved...
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Tracy Keller

Story of Service: Tracy Keller

As an honoree on the January 2024 Serve Virginia Honor Roll, Tracy Keller has been an ambassador of girl leadership since her teen years in Girl Scouts. There, she earned the highest award, the Gold Award, for creating and carrying out an elementary educational program on prevention of tobacco use. Now, more than thirty years later and as CEO of the Girl Scouts of the Colonial Coast since 2005, Tracy continues to facilitate conversations that empower girls and women, and helps shape programs within her community. Recently, Tracy embraced the challenge of volunteering as the lead for the Empowering Girls...
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The Institute for Advanced Learning and Research

Story of Service: The Institute for Advanced Learning and Research

As home to the Dan River Year AmeriCorps program, the Institute for Advanced Learning and Research (IALR) acts as a regional catalyst for economic transformation. AmeriCorps members at IALR currently serve as STEM and literacy tutors and developers. They primarily assist upper elementary through middle school students in schools and at out-of-school partner sites. By tutoring and mentoring young students, AmeriCorps members at IALR help make sure all students are equipped to reach their goals. The Dan River Region exhibits lower high-school graduation rates as compared to the state (Danville 73.3%, Pittsylvania County 90.4%, Virginia 91.9%).  Members tutoring and mentoring...
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Virginia Beach Medical Reserve Corps

Story of Service: Virginia Beach Medical Reserve Corps

Comprised of medical and public health professionals serving alongside interested non-medical community members, the Virginia Beach Medical Reserve Corps (VBMRC) shares skills, expertise, and time to support public health initiatives and respond to health emergencies throughout Virginia Beach. Established in 2002, the VBMRC is organized locally through the Virginia Beach Department of Public Health to improve the health and safety of its community. More than doubling in size during the pandemic to support COVID-19 efforts for the city, the VBMRC unit of 1,817 general support and healthcare professional volunteers is an essential component of emergency efforts for the city of...

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