MU Spirit of Service Scholar gets leadership opportunity through new AmeriCorps program

Kristen Netter selected as AmeriCorps Program Member at Marymount University

 

Marymount University’s Saints’ Center for Service has been awarded the K2H Civic Futures AmeriCorps Program grant through the nonprofit Campus Compact, furthering the University’s commitment to service. Through the Civic Futures Program, an AmeriCorps member will implement civic engagement opportunities for students at K-12 schools or community-based organizations in partnership with Marymount.

Marymount is pleased to announce that undergraduate student and Spirit of Service Scholar Kristen Netter has been selected as the inaugural AmeriCorps Member for the program. Netter will devote a minimum of 300 service hours over the next year as a Civic Mentor to develop and implement a program that provides youth with the opportunity to become meaningfully involved in their community.

“I am very ecstatic for this new position and I’m eager to get to work,” Netter said. “It was always a goal of mine to work for AmeriCorps, and I’m grateful that I was given this life-changing opportunity.”

Netter was tapped to lead this initiative because of her commitment and experience in volunteerism. As a high school student, she worked at the nonprofit organization unCommon Construction, which focuses on building affordable housing for low-income families in New Orleans. Netter also volunteered with the Louisiana Children’s Museum, developing programs for students and helping out during summer camps.

Kristen Netter, AmeriCorps Program Member at Marymount, volunteers for the nonprofit Bridges to Independence
Kristen Netter, far left, pictured as she volunteers for the nonprofit Bridges to Independence.

 

Shortly after enrolling at Marymount in 2019, Netter became involved with the Saints’ Center for Service, the University’s on-campus organization that empowers students to become engaged citizens in the community. In Spring 2020, Netter applied for and was awarded the Marymount Spirit of Service Scholarship, a competitive program that supports student development in the areas of leadership and service.

“Kristen has been an incredible asset to our Spirit of Service Scholarship program and to the Saints’ Center for Service,” said Center Director Kelly Dalton. “She is a committed and creative student leader who cares deeply about the community. We are excited to work with her in this new AmeriCorps initiative and we look forward to strengthening Marymount’s commitment to service.”

As an AmeriCorps Member and Civic Mentor, Netter will begin developing her keystone program initiative as she returns to Marymount for her junior year.

“I would like to build partnerships with schools within the community to create a curriculum and sustainable programming so that students have access to service learning and civic engagement opportunities that they would not have had previously,” Netter explained. “My main focus will be to empower students by working directly with them.”