In fall 2012, ACT (Appalachian and the Community Together) launched the Board Fellows Program at Appalachian State University. The program matches undergraduate students with a local non- profit advisory board. This experience provides students the opportunity to be exposed to community leadership, non-profit management and governance and gain valuable skills and experience as future community leaders.

Fellows commit to one year serving as a non-voting member on a local nonprofit board of directors and getting insight into the administrative operations behind one of the university's many unique and active Community Partners. The Fellows cohort also meet throughout the year to discuss nonprofit leadership and other critical issues in the sector.

The first cohort consisted of 10 Fellows placed at 9 non-profits.  According to 2012-13 Fellow, Shady Kimzey,  "It has been highly encouraging to be a member of a group where each individual is both business and socially minded. I have learned not only how to be a better Public Relations major, but also a better community member in society."  Another student, Jay Williams says that "Of all the enriching elements of my time at Appalachian, none have meant more than the opportunities to enrich those around us through partnerships such as the Board Fellows." 

However, the program is not just beneficial to the students as evidenced by the reflections of Jennifer Grubb, Executive Director of Western Youth Network, an organization that provides prevention and intervention programs for youth in the High Country region.  She stated that "Our Board Fellow brings us so much energy, and he has brought fresh ideas to our group. I have been so impressed with his professionalism!"  ACT is currently accepting applications for the 2013-14 cohort.

Learn more here: http://act.appstate.edu/asu-board-fellows.

Over the past decade, more than 200 people have served as an NC Campus Compact AmeriCorps VISTA. If you are one of them - we need your help! We are seeking generous, committed VISTA alums who are willing to mentor a new VISTA.

You've been through VISTA, you've worked on a campus, and you've gone on to do other great things - please help a young national service member by sharing your wisdom and experience! In this second year of the VISTA mentoring project, we want to connect each new VISTA with a local Campus Compact VISTA alum. The program is informal and the commitment is very manageable: just have 3 contacts in the fall and 3 contacts in the spring - including at least one in-person meeting sometime during the project year.

If you would like to be an alumni mentor, please contact Chad Fogleman, program coordinator, at 336-278-7197 or cfogleman2@elon.edu.