Summer Youth Corps Puts College Students To Work For Bucks Nonprofits

 BUCKS COUNTY, PA – Thirteen college students gained practical experience, made a positive impact in the community, and earned college credit this summer as members of the Summer Youth Corps, a paid internship experience at nonprofits serving Bucks County's children, young adults and families.

The Summer Youth Corps is a partnership between Foundations Community Partnership and the Bucks County Community College.

During the 10-week program, Supervisor Claire Tierney met weekly with each intern to set learning goals, reflect on agency experiences and navigate challenges.

“SYC instills a passion for service and helps students grow personally and professionally," said Tierney, a Doylestown resident who will be starting law school this fall at the University of Pittsburgh.

SYC integrates meaningful community service with instruction and reflection to enrich the learning experience, teach civic responsibility, and strengthen communities. Over the past 18 years, 241 college students completed the program, contributing nearly 70,000 service hours at 42 participating nonprofits.

Based on the Independent Sector’s estimate of the value of a volunteer hour, the total value contributed by SYC interns to nonprofits since 2008 equals $1,783,747.42. Students who complete their freshman through junior year at college and who are residents of Bucks County are eligible to participate.

This year’s SYC interns made a positive impact at the following agencies:

• Holland resident Kayli Abendroth assisted the United Way Bucks County in Levittown. She is pursuing a Mechanical Engineering degree at Worchester Polytechnic Institute.
• Southampton resident Ariana Alvarez interned at the Churchville Nature Center in Churchville. She is a Nursing major at Temple University.
• Elizabeth Bruhn assisted the Bucks County Health Improvement Partnership in Newtown. She majors in Cellular Neurobiology at Moravian University.
• Levittown resident Alexis Dingley worked at Habitat for Humanity Bucks County in Warminster. She is pursuing a Communication Studies degree at West Chester University.
• New Hope resident Alexandria Elias interned at A Woman’s Place in Doylestown. She is an Illustration major at the School of Visual Arts.
• Warrington resident Makenzie Freund worked at River Crossing YMCA in Doylestown. She is a Nursing major at Temple University.
• Jamison resident Caylee Hansel assisted One House At A Time in Huntingdon Valley. She majors in Biology at Kutztown University.
• Chalfont resident Rosalena Karcher interned at the Michener Art Museum in Doylestown. She is an Art Education major at Boston University.
• Chalfont resident Lauren Michener worked at the Network of Victim Assistance (NOVA) in Jamison. She is pursuing a Psychology degree at Penn State University.
• Doylestown resident Olivia Moyer interned at Special Equestrians in Warrington. She is a Psychology major at the University of Pittsburgh with plans to pursue a career in law.
• Bristol resident Andreas Quattrochi worked at the Bucks County Housing Group in Warminster. He double majors in Neuroscience and Philosophy at the University of Pittsburgh.
• Newtown resident Griffin Shah interned at the Growth Opportunity Center in Southampton. He is a Psychology major at Penn State University.
• Doylestown resident Reagan Smith assisted the Cancer Support Community Greater Philadelphia. She is a Psychology major at the University of Colorado-Boulder.

For more information about FCP and to view photos and videos of past program participants and activities, visit fcpartnership.org/summer-youth-corps.