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              Four National Service Champions Win Annual Excellence in AmeriCorps Awards
      FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:Sep 01, 2022
  

                    *AmeriCorps alumni and grantees from California, Maryland, Nebraska and Wisconsin were selected for providing outstanding service*

WASHINGTON, D.C. – AmeriCorps, the federal agency for national service and volunteerism, awarded the annual Excellence in AmeriCorps awards to two alumni, a grantee and a decades-long national service advocate for their outstanding service within AmeriCorps State and National programs. From California to Maryland, this year’s award recipients go above and beyond every day to make our country safer, smarter and healthier. 
 Now in its eighth year, the Excellence in AmeriCorps Awards honors the outstanding and innovative State and National programs, members and alumni tackling our nation’s most-pressing challenges. The 2022 Excellence in AmeriCorps award winners represent important examples of national service, equity, impact and lifetime service.

“We are so proud of our AmeriCorps members and programs and appreciate the opportunity to highlight their work,”**said Sonali Nijhawan, AmeriCorps State and National director.**“All of our AmeriCorps members, State and National grantees and commission partners remind us to create space for service across the nation and while we honored a few today, we are grateful for all the countless contributions the AmeriCorps network has made.”

The 2022 Excellence in AmeriCorps award winners include:

**Angel Brown, Serve Wisconsin –Impactful Service Award** Angel Brown has made a difference in the lives of numerous Wisconsinites through her AmeriCorps service. Angel has served as a recovery coach with the**Marshfield Clinic Health Systems AmeriCorps Recovery Corps** program for three terms, providing support to individuals with substance abuse disorders and in recovery. Previously, Angel served for a year with AmeriCorps as a mentor for students in multiple classrooms and programs focused on tribal nations.**Community Mediation Corps, Maryland – Inclusive Service Award** **Community Mediation Corps** engages formerly incarcerated people to serve as AmeriCorps members, breaking down barriers to gainful employment and full citizenship. AmeriCorps members serve as re-entry mediation specialists, going into prisons and offering mediation between incarcerated people and their families, to rebuild damaged relationships in preparation for and following release. Re-Entry Mediation services have provided more than 3,360 sessions in 30 correctional facilities in Maryland.
	**Together, Nebraska – Innovative Service Award** **Together** utilizes inventive programming through education, outreach and gardening to impact hunger and food insecurity across the state. AmeriCorps members serving directly implement and operate their nourish program, an innovative program aimed at providing comprehensive and culturally appropriate services to those experiencing food insecurity in the Omaha, Neb., metropolitan area. AmeriCorps members serve by organizing food and nutrition information, navigating assistance in areas of benefits and nutrition, and building community gardens. Together Nebraska is the only food pantry in the Omaha area to offer an array of services including in-house nutritionists, cooking experts, SNAP and WIC outreach specialists, case managers, social workers, street outreach teams, home deliveries and health testing.
	**Eddie Aguero, California Volunteers****–****Lifetime Service Award** Eddie Aguero has served with the **California Volunteers Commission**for 29 years, supporting the growth of national service in California while encouraging and equipping AmeriCorps programs for success through five gubernatorial administrations. Eddie is recognized as one of California’s 20 visionary AmeriCorps Trailblazers who has been at the forefront of the service movement since the inception of AmeriCorps, and has created, shaped, and supported AmeriCorps service in California. Eddie has faithfully served the state as an in several leadership roles within California Volunteers. Eddie was instrumental in the development and implementation of numerous statewide initiatives leading to new partners engaged and some of Californian’s most vulnerable communities served, including America Reads, America’s Promise Fellows, CalVet Corps, Volunteer Infrastructure Program, and more. His service has made it possible for more than 150,000 California residents to serve in AmeriCorps since 1994 and expanded service opportunities available through California Volunteers to more than 4,000 each year.AmeriCorps State and National programs are implemented in partnership with State Service Commissions across the country. More than 1.2 million AmeriCorps alumni across all AmeriCorps programs, including State and National, have contributed more than 1.6 billion hours of service and earned nearly $4 billion in education awards since 1994. Every year, thousands of AmeriCorps members prepare students for success, rebuild communities and revitalize cities, support veterans, fight the opioid epidemic, respond to disasters, preserve public lands, strengthen education, foster economic opportunity, and more.
              AmeriCorps, the federal agency for national service and volunteerism, provides opportunities for Americans to serve their country domestically, address the nation’s most pressing challenges, improve lives and communities, and strengthen civic engagement. Each year, the agency places more than 250,000 AmeriCorps members and AmeriCorps Seniors volunteers in intensive service roles; and empowers millions more to serve as long-term, short-term, or one-time volunteers.

AmeriCorps offers opportunities for individuals of all backgrounds to be a part of the national service community, grow personally and professionally, and receive benefits for their service. Learn how to get involved at **AmeriCorps.gov/serve**. Back to main content Sign up to hear about our latest news, events, and opportunities.
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