Debra Simmons of Watkins will graduate from AmeriCorps*National Civilian Community Corps (AmeriCorps* NCCC) Western Region Wednesday, July 30. The ceremony will mark the ninth graduating class since the inception of Ameri-Corps*NCCC. It will take place at McClellan Park in Sacramento, Calif. Simmons is one of 242 AmeriCorps*NCCC members being honored at the ceremony. During her 10 months of service she worked in a team of 10-12 deployed in California, Oregon, Washington, Alaska, Hawaii, Utah, Nevada, Arizona, Idaho and the territories of Guam and Samoa. AmeriCorps*NCCC community service projects target five focus areas: education, public safety, unmet human needs, homeland security and the environment. This year’s projects included tutoring and mentoring low income neighborhood students in San Diego, building homes with Habitat for Humanity in Brigham City, Utah, running a food collection drive for the Honolulu Food Bank and trail work in Arizona’s Tonto National Forest. AmeriCorps*NCCC encourages young adults ages 18-24 to commit ten months of community service. Corps members receive room and board and a modest living allowance in return. Upon successful completion of the program, members earn a $4,725 education award that can be used for educational advancement or repayment of student loans.
