OUSF in the News
NEW PROGRAM: ONE UTAH SERVICE FELLOWSHIP
The One Utah Service Fellowship is the first of its kind in the nation to combine state and federal funding into an AmeriCorps program. The program’s mission is to provide accessible opportunities for young adults to participate in high-impact service to address state needs and priorities. In August, Utah will swear in its inaugural group of One Utah Service Fellows.
“Service is critically important not just to the community, but to the giver,” said Lt. Governor Deidre Henderson. “As we build a culture of service in K-12 and higher education, it will only strengthen our communities, teach leadership and other intangible skills, and keep Utah the wonderful giving place it has always been.”
Renee Leta - Utah Department of Cultural and Community Engagement
OUSF Honorable Mention in Gov. and First Lady Cox' State Leadership Award from Voices of National Service May 2024.
Utah lawmaker/former university president proposes new way to serve — and earn money for college
One Utah Fellowship Program would pair young people seeking to serve their communities with qualifying Utah nonprofits and organizations that need help
Marjorie Cortez - Deseret News
UTAH’S YOUTH ARE MAKING SERVICE COOL
Legislation proposed by Sen. Ann Millner and Rep. Val Peterson requests $2 million in one-time funding, plus $1.3 million ongoing, for UServeUtah to launch the One Utah Service Fellowship. The initiative will connect college students with nonprofits for meaningful service opportunities while earning living costs and a tuition stipend. It’s estimated the program will work with 750 fellows in the pilot phase of the program. To qualify, fellows will be Utah residents within five years of high school graduation who are committed to working with local non-profits and community organizations.
Ellen Fagg Weist - Utah Department of Cultural and Community Engagement
Scholarship proposal would incentivize student service
“Service and the commitment to give back are defining features of our state culture and we want to keep it that way,” said Gov. Spencer Cox. “Volunteering has benefits for the giver, the receiver and the entire community, and that’s why we’re launching several initiatives that support volunteering.”
One of the initiatives is the One Utah Service Fellowship, a pilot program that is part of Cox’s fiscal year 2025 budget proposal. If approved by the legislature, the program would provide full-time service opportunities for Utahns who have graduated high school in the past five years. Participants would receive an hourly stipend and a $7,400 scholarship in exchange for 1,700 hours of service with an approved partner organization.
Cox announced the fellowship proposal at his Why We Serve Symposium on Monday, Jan. 8 at the Delta Center.