Local college students can receive up to $10,000 for community service

Students at San Bernardino Valley College and Crafton Hills College will have the opportunity to earn while doing community service, thanks to a $1.7 million grant from California Volunteers, Office of the Governor.

Starting this fall, College Corps will provide 100 students over two academic years with service opportunities in critical issue areas such as K-12 education. Students who complete a year of service will receive $10,000 while gaining valuable experience serving in their communities.

“We’re thrilled to team up with California Volunteers to open new opportunities for our students to give back, be part of something bigger, and grow personally and professionally,” said Diana Z. Rodriguez, who is Chancellor of the San Bernardino Community College District, home of Crafton Hills College and San Bernardino Valley College.

Rodriguez said Crafton Hills College and San Bernardino Valley College are already organized for community service. But the state grant will help make sure the campuses can offer generous stipends to students for educational expenses. The program is open to all students.

The money comes from California’s share of the federal American Rescue Plan Act of 2021, as well as some money from the state’s general fund.

Other colleges selected include Cal State San Bernardino, UC Riverside, College of the Desert, and Riverside City College, which are already collaborating with Crafton Hills College and San Bernardino Valley College in a consortium called Growing Inland Achievement. All told there will be approximately 6,500 College Corps Fellows in California.

Just 45 colleges and universities from around the state were selected to create a #CaliforniansForAll College Corps program in this first year.

“Today we are talking about service,” said California Community Colleges Chancellor Eloy Ortiz Oakley, who was included in the announcement with the Governor. He said this program will help students align their service in the community with their chosen career pathway. “Earning while learning their career is a great opportunity,” he said.

Application information will be available to students by March 2022. For more information visit https://sbccd.edu/news/californians-for-all-college-corps.php.