Campus Corps Connections
A Montana Campus Compact publication
Participating Campuses:
•Blackfeet Community College
•Carroll College
•Dawson Community College
•Flathead Valley Community College
•Fort Belknap College
•Fort Peck Community College
•Little Big Horn College
•Miles Community College
•MSU-Billings
•MSU-Bozeman
•MSU-Great Falls College of Tech
•MSU-Northern
•Montana Tech
•Rocky Mountain College
•Salish Kootenai College
•UM-Helena College of Tech
•UM-Missoula
•UM-Western
•University of Great Falls
Our Mission:
Montana Campus Corps is an
AmeriCorps program that
engages college students in
meeting community
identified needs through
meaningful service.
Inside this Issue:
AmeriCorps/Volunteer Week...2
Seussville University….………..3
Spring Summit…….……...…….4
Donate Life Challenge…….…...4
Funding/Loan Forgiveness……..5
Farewell, Team Leaders…....….6
Campus Corps is a proud member of the
AmeriCorps family of National Service
Programs in Montana.
Volume 5, Issue 3 Summer 2009
A SUMMER OF SERVICE
Recovery Corps is a new Campus Corps
initiative this year, made possible by the
stimulus funds granted via The American Re-
covery and Reinvestment Act of 2009.
Though typically Campus Corps members
serve during the academic year, this new em-
phasis on summer positions will address the
concern of many community agencies being
left without the necessary human resources
during the summer months.
Campus Corps Recovery members are serv-
ing some of the most economically-troubled
counties in Montana, and the nation. Blaine, Glacier, Big Horn and Roosevelt counties are
experiencing poverty rates well over 20 percent, and this Recovery initiative will primarily
target these high-needs areas of our state. Altogether, forty-eight Recovery Corps mem-
bers will be placed in 2009 in these, and other high-needs communities throughout Montana.
Members will recruit volunteers for and serve at local not-for-profit organizations dealing
with issues related to the current the economic crisis.
The members kicked off their service at New Member Orientation in Billings on June 1-2,
where the were taught the key elements of their service, set service goals, and served the
community of Billings from the Food Bank and Family Services.
In line with the President Obama’s “United We Serve” initiative, members’ service will ad-
dress problems caused by the economic downturn. The United We Serve campaign encour-
ages greater civic participation from all Americans this summer. There are four key areas to
this campaign including “providing community renewal to the areas hardest hit by the eco-
nomic crisis.” In a recent address, the President asked all citizens to make service a part of
their daily lives this summer, and Campus Corps Recovery members are doing just that.
The President’s Summer of Service initiative officially begins June 22.
To learn more, visit http://serve.gov/
Interested in spending a year of your life leading a
group of college student AmeriCorps members?
We've got a position for you!
Each year, non-student leaders support the efforts of hundreds of Campus Corps members
throughout Montana. Under the supervision of local campus-based program coordinators,
leaders organize weekly team meetings with members, serve as campus-community liaisons,
help coordinate service-learning activities, and offer assistance in developing and implement-
ing service projects on national service days.
Think you're up to the challenge? Go to http://my.americorps.gov and apply today!
Page 2
A WEEK IN THE
National Volunteer Week and AmeriCorps Week in Montana
MSU-Bozeman
During National Volunteer Week the MSU-
Bozeman team attended three different After
School Programs. They worked with over 80
elementary students on an Earth Day project.
Each student painted their individual pot, and
then planted a sunflower seed with potting
soil, and watered it for the first time.
The biggest challenge, but also the biggest suc-
cess was making sure the students involved in
the activity were engaged in making their pro-
ject unique. Since the project was completed,
the MSU Campus Corps members have re-
ceived huge thank you banners from the stu-
dents and have been asked to come back and
serve again next year. The presence of the
MSU-Bozeman team during National Volun-
teer Week really meant a lot to them and
there was a definite impact made on the stu-
dents.
FVCC
AmeriCorps Week at FVCC consisted of a
weeklong information table and video station in
our Main Foyer. The Campus Corps Team
manned the table and offered refreshments to
the students during the week, which was also
finals week on our campus. We handed out lots
of goodies and applications to interested peo-
ple. We also created a sign up list of interested
folks. We put up signs all over campus as well
as crafted table tents for the cafeteria. We
posted brief position descriptions and did our
best to convey the benefits of joining the pro-
gram!
Campus Corps Connections, Volume 5, Issue 3
LIFE:
UM-Missoula
Missoula AmeriCorps members conducted
recruitment on the University of Montana’s
campus during AmeriCorps Week, explaining
AmeriCorps and all of the outlets for serving
in and around Missoula to those passing by.
Many students were delighted to have the op-
portunity to hear first-hand service stories.
Representatives from Campus Corps, Conser-
vation Corps, Montana Making $ense, and all
three VISTA projects in the state were pre-
sent at the table each day, each with a differ-
ent perspective of the meaning of National
Service. At the end of the week, over 100 cur-
rent AmeriCorps members and alumni gath-
ered for food, music and fun at Greenough
Park for a barbeque and pot luck. Participants
represented an array of AmeriCorps State
Programs: Campus Corps, Montana Making
$ense, Literacy Support Corps, and Montana
Conservation Corps; National AmeriCorps
programs were represented by: AmeriCorps
VISTA and Senior Corps.
Page 3
WELCOME TO SUESSVILLE UNIVERSITY!
Third-graders explore their creative side, learn about music, art and math
By Tracy Lost-Bear, FVCC Campus Corps member
Seussville University was a great success this year
thanks to the group effort of Campus Corps members
at Flathead Valley Community College and many won-
derful students and staff members who volunteered
their talents and time to plan, set up, and entertain
during the event. This year’s celebration, in the spirit
of Dr. Seuss, promoted literacy, math, music, and art
skills to over 250 third-grade students from around
Flathead Valley.
To kick the event off, each school bus that arrived
filled with excited students was greeted by the smiling
faces, waving hands, and cheers of enthusiastic volun-
teers. It was an enriching experience for everyone
who attended. Students participated in activities that
encouraged group participation, creativity, and body
movement— Children and adults alike had the oppor-
tunity to let go of their everyday routines, loosen up
and have as much fun as possible.
Some of the volunteers dressed as their favorite char-
acters from Dr. Seuss books. They helped guide the
elementary school children through different learning
stations filled with fun activities. The stations included
reading, mathematics, music, and art.
In the reading area, children listened to, and were en-
couraged to participate in the reading of an original
rendition of a Dr. Seuss book. In the math area, chil-
dren worked with tangrams to create different shapes
such as boats, foxes, and rabbits. In the art area, chil-
dren decorated clay pots and planted pine trees in
them before taking them home. In the music area,
theatre members entertained the children with singing,
Campus Corps Connections, Volume 5, Issue 3
dance, and sign language. The highlight of the day was
when the theatre group put on a special play. FVCC’s
theatre members presented a short play about the
Star-bellied Sneetches.
The play was an excellent lesson in the importance of
recognizing and accepting our differences, and doing
away with the ideals of discrimination, prejudice, and
superiority.
A clear message was presented during the play, “. . .
until neither the Plain-bellied nor the Star-bellied Sneetches
knew whether this one was that one or that one was this
one or which one was what one . . . or what one was who,”
so, both the audience and the Sneetches learned from
this experience that everyone is capable of getting
along and becoming friends.
To close the celebration, FVCC’s very own Cat-in-the-
Hat, with the help of the Grinch, presented awards to
children who entered an art and poetry contest. Each
winner was announced and then invited on stage so
the Cat-in-the-Hat could give them their special prizes.
The Cat-in-the-Hat encouraged the audience to ap-
plaud each winner’s hard work and accomplishment.
At one point, the Cat-in-the-Hat explained to the au-
dience that the Grinch was really misunderstood and
not such a bad guy. The audience responded with a
round of applause for the Grinch.
Every student and teacher present also received an
Honorary Degree from Seussville University. Students
also received a special treat as the Cat-in-the-Hat
signed autographs as they were leaving for the day.
We tip our hats off to every volunteer who helped make this year one of
the most, if not the most successful Seussville University in FVCC’s history!
Page 4 Campus Corps Connections, Volume 5, Issue 3

CELEBRATING A TERM OF SERVICE

Sharing their stories of service, learning from the
peers and engaging with the Bozeman community are just
a few of the activities Campus Corps members were part
of on April 17th-19th at this year’s Spring Summit. Most
Campus Corps members had not seen one another since
the building Engaged Citizens Conference in September,
when most were new to the program and just getting a
feel for what their year would entail. With almost eight
months of experience behind them, members were able
to connect with one another on a different level.
Many of the individuals who attended Spring Summit were very grateful to take part in the
peer training sessions. Different workshops were offered by current Campus Corps members and
members of the Montana Campus Compact July VISTA class. The workshop topics ranged in content
from Building Organic Partnerships to Promoting Physical Activity in Youth, Event Planning to Com-
munity Resourcing. As with all Campus Corps trainings, members took some time out of training to
serve the Bozeman community. They served at the Gallatin Valley Food Bank, Heart of the Valley
Animal Shelter, and with the Vandalism Task Force.
Along with peer trainings and service, members were recognized for their achievements
throughout their terms of service. Although not everyone can win an award, all of the individuals in-
volved with Campus Corps made substantial contributions to their respective communities through
service. Award recipients are listed below.

• Award for Exceptional Leadership

Liz Dellwo, MSU-Bozeman Team Leader
• Outstanding Service Project
Seussville University, FVCC Campus Corps Team
• Campus Corps Citizenship Award
Lindsay Stocker, Second-year member at MSU-Billings
• Excellence in Service-Learning
Nikole Disney, MSU-Bozeman service-learning member
• Special Recognition
Charles Kennedy, Second-year member at BFCC

Final Numbers for the Donate Life Today 2009 MTCC Challenge
April was Donate Life Today month and Campus Corps members across the state mobilized friends and family to become
organ, eye and tissue donors. The campuses in bold (below) are the winners of this year’s MTCC challenge.

• Carroll College: 10 • Montana State University-Northern: 26

• Dawson Community College: 1
• Flathead Valley Community College: 84
• Fort Belknap College: 1
• Fort Peck Community College: 1
• Montana State University-Billings 1
• Montana State University-Bozeman: 38
• Montana Tech of UM: 7
• Rocky Mountain College: 119
• Salish Kootenai College: 2
• The University of Montana-Helena COT: 1
• The University of Montana-Missoula: 74
• The University of Montana-Western: 1

QUICK FACTS: Of the 372 total participants in the Challenge, 126 (34%) were first-time donors.
Another 201 participants (54%) were already donors who took the opportunity to register their wishes.
Page 5 Campus Corps Connections, Volume 5, Issue 3

NEW FUNDING FOR CAMPUS CORPS The Montana Campus Compact (MTCC) recently received notice that
its 15 year-old Campus Corps program will get a funding boost in 2009,
to the tune of $750,000 in federal funds from the Corporation for Na-
tional and Community Service via two competitive grant awards.

“This is a great honor for our organization—a testament to the great

service students in Montana have done and will continue to do,” said
Dean McGovern, Montana Campus Compact executive director, “this
funding will help more students serve their communities and afford
higher education.”

Once students enroll as Campus Corps members, they serve on com-

munity projects through local organizations such as Big Brothers Big Sis-
ters, Habitat for Humanity, YWCA, Boys & Girls Clubs, local school districts and healthcare facilities.
These engaged students serve in the neediest areas of the state to mentor at-risk youth, assist the elderly,
build community gardens, implement fundraising events, clean up river beds and parks, provide wellness
education, build houses, conduct food, blood, and organ drives, and most importantly help nonprofits to
recruit more volunteers to meet their goals.

Eric Cardella, Campus Corps Program Manager, is encouraged by this opportunity to expand the program.
“Our student members are tackling critical needs in many underserved areas of our state,” Cardella said.
“We will now be able to put more hands on deck over the next three years.”

The new funds—awarded competitively via the Montana Commission on Community Service —will allow
MTCC to support the service efforts of nearly 1,000 college students in the 2009-2010 academic year.

LOAN FORGIVENESS FOR CAMPUS CORPS

ALUMS IN PUBLIC SERVICE PROFESSIONS!
MTCC staff recently attended the National Conference on Volunteerism and Service. Among our take
-aways was information on the College Cost Reduction Act of 2009, and specifically the Public Service
Loan Forgiveness associated with it.

In short, those who pursue “public service” careers will be eligible to have their federal student loan
debt forgiven after ten years of regular payments. For example, if you enter a career in health care,
nonprofit, education, or government service, and if you have federal student loan debt, for which you
make equal monthly payments at or “Income-Based Repayment,” your remaining student loan debt will
be forgiven after a period ten years’ worth of regular payments.

Full-time AmeriCorps members who make income-based payments may count their year of service as
one of the ten years necessary to have public loan debt forgiven. An income-based monthly payment
for a full-time AmeriCorps member works out to $0/month.

(NOTE: The Public Service Loan Forgiveness program applies only to payments made after Oct. 2007).
More information can be found at http://www.ibrinfo.org. Click the What are These Programs? link and read on.
Page 6
LIFE AFTER AMERICORPS:
What’s next for 08/09 Campus Corps Leaders?
Liz Dellwo, MSU
Liz will be attending Montana State
University in the fall of 2009, studying
in the Public Administration and Po-
litical Science Graduate Program. She
plans to stay very much involved with
America Reads America Counts, for
which she currently serves as a volun-
teer tutor.
Megan Jung, MSU-B
Still weighing her options, Megan is
either moving back to MN for a job
or heading to Washington to establish
residency for grad school, where she
plans to enroll in the Student Affairs
Administration Masters program at
Western Washington University
Sue Crowe, MSU-N
Sue will be serving with Opportunity
Link in Havre as an Ameri-
Corps*VISTA and hopes to establish
certification courses for renewable
energy technology at the various col-
leges on the Hi-Line
Janel Evans, MT Tech
Janel will take on the role of Campus
Corps leader for Montana Tech again
next year. She also plans to pursue
her educational goals, though she is
still unsure what field of study. She
eventually plans to make a move to
Missoula to be closer to her sister.
Ashley Widtfeldt, MTCC
Ashley will be taking on the role of
Campus Corps leader at UM next
year. She also plans on beginning a
Master’s in Public Administration
while she serves with Campus Corps.
Campus Corps Connections, Volume 5, Issue 3
Ruth Moore, FPCC
Ruth may continue working with the
Wellness Center in Poplar. She would
still be a personal trainer, teaching
various exercise classes and promot-
ing in the communities to live healthy
lifestyles. She also still has two active
teenage boys at home that help keep
her personal life busy.
Roe Erin, UM-Missoula
Following her Campus Corps term,
Roe will be serving as an Ameri-
Corps*VISTA with the YWCA-
GUTS! (Girls Using Their Strengths)
program. She is looking forward to
another year of fun in Missoula!
Heather Corcoran, MT Tech
Heather plans to continue working on
her degree in Elementary Ed. through
University of Montana -Western. She
plans to start substitute teaching in the
Butte Elementary schools. Her goal is
to live in Kitsap County in WA state.
JJ Bessette, FVCC
JJ plans to return to her home town
of Missoula to complete her educa-
tion, after being away for over 11
years. She will be majoring in Elemen-
tary Education with the possibility of a
second degree in social work.
THANK YOU to all of our 08/09 leaders
who have made meaningful service a reality
for hundreds of Montana’s students this
year! Your leadership and commitment are
what make Campus Corps great!