Stirling student 'makes a difference'
as AmeriCorps volunteer

July 30, 2010 -- LONG HILL TWP. - Brian Marshall of Stirling has just completed service on his final project with the AmeriCorps NCCC (National Civilian Community Corps) North Central Region, and will graduate from the AmeriCorps NCCC program on Thursday, Aug. 5, in Vinton, Iowa.

Marshall is a 2008 graduate of Watchung Hills Regional High School. He has completed one year at Quinnipiac University, Hamden, Conn., and plans to continue his college studies at Kean University, Union.

Brian Marshall of Stirling stands in front of sign near worksite in New Orleans, La., of lowernine.org, where community volunteers helped to rebuild the Lower Ninth Ward of New Orleans after the devastation of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. The sign included signatures and messages from some of the volunteers. Marshall was there with AmeriCorps NCCC (National Civilian Community Corps), and he worked similarly on several other similar community projects around the country during his time in AmeriCorps. He will graduate after 10 months of service in AmeriCorps NCCC on Thursday, Aug. 5, in Vinton, Iowa.

About his time in AmeriCorps, he has said, "I feel really good to put thoughts and words to action and make a difference."

Marshall and his team has been serving with the Cedar Rapids Science Station, a science day camp for children grades pre-Kindergarten through grade 6, assisting teachers in the instruction of science classes, developing curriculum and planning activities for the classroom topics.

The son of Ron and Cathy Marshall, he has completed four projects with his NCCC team.

Other projects included working with Habitat for Humanity in the final construction phase of six homes in Des Moines Iowa.

The team also worked with lowernine.org and community volunteers on rebuilding the Lower Ninth Ward of New Orleans after the devastation of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita.

Marshall has also well assisted the maintenance department of the Flat Rock River YMCA Camp in St. Paul, Ind., with preparations for summer volunteers, and assisted the city of Beatrice, Neb., with the clearing of trees and brush from the banks of the Blue River in order to make the river more accessible and visible to the public.

In reflecting on what one gains from serving a term with AmeriCorps, Marshall said, "you meet new people, make great friends, see new places, acquire new skills, and learn new things about yourself."

Specific accomplishments for the team include: Assisted in the completion of six new houses; insulated four rooms; refurbished 10 homes for disaster victims; removed 10,000 pounds of debris or trash; tore out 50 rotted studs and replaced them with new lumber; moved, loaded, and unloaded 500 pounds of lumber and materials; installed a 20x30 pig pin and built a 8x16 chicken coop, including framing, sheeting, roofing, shingling, and siding; led 40 cadet volunteers from the Hoosier Youth Challenge Academy; sanded and applied three coats of finish on eight Yurt floors; restored or protected 6,450 feet of riverbank; removed 80,000 pounds of underbrush; planted 400 seedlings; assisted in the instruction of 560 children on various scientific topics; and planned and structured six science courses at the Cedar Rapids Science Station.

Marshall graduation marks the end of a 10-month journey that began in October 2009 for 150 AmeriCorps NCCC Corps Members and Team Leaders.

NCCC Corps Members and Team Leaders completed more than 250,000 hours of community service while completing 76 service projects.

During their term of service, corps members and team leaders worked in teams of 10 to 12 and were deployed on service projects across the North Central Region states: Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota, and Wisconsin.

NCCC teams also provided support to the residents of the Mid-West devastated by the floods of 2008/2009 and the Gulf Coast region devastated by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita.

AmeriCorps NCCC, administered by the Corporation for National and Community Service, provides opportunities to members, who work to improve the environment, enhance education, increase public safety, help with disaster relief and assist in other unmet human needs. NCCC members must be 18 to 24 and complete at least 1,700 hours of service during the 10-month program.

For information about applying to AmeriCorps NCCC, call 1-800-942-2677 or visit www.americorps.gov/nccc.