Hailey Guzzo, 22, of Bartlett, recently began a 10-month term of service in the National Civilian Community Corps (NCCC), an AmeriCorps program. Guzzo, based out of the regional campus in Denver, Colo., is currently serving on her first project.
Founded in 1994, AmeriCorps NCCC is a residential national service program that supports disaster relief, the environment, infrastructure improvement, energy conservation and urban and rural development.
Guzzo arrived in Denver on Jan. 22 to begin training. This two-week orientation emphasized teamwork, leadership development, communication, safety, and project preparation.
As a Corps Member, Guzzo will be responsible for completing a series of six- to 12-week-long service projects as part of a five- to seven-person team. Her first service project will run through the end of March, at which time the teams will return to Denver for a few days to debrief and transition. They will begin a new project in a new location in early April.
Before joining the NCCC, Guzzo graduated from Bolton High School in May 2013, then attended South Dakota State University, which she graduated from in May 2017 with a degree in nutrition and dietetics. She is the daughter of Michelle Guzzo.
Guzzo said, “I have always enjoyed volunteering and helping others. I want to be a part of something that is greater than oneself – to work within a team that has a common goal. I have always wanted to serve in AmeriCorps. I think this will be a very valuable learning experience and I hope to make an impact on someone’s life.”
AmeriCorps NCCC members, all 18 to 24 years old, complete at least 1,700 hours of service during the 10-month program. In exchange for their service, they receive $5,815 to help pay for college. Other benefits include a small living stipend, room and board, leadership development, team building skills, and the knowledge that, through active citizenship, they can make a difference. For details, visit nationalservice.gov/nccc.
