A r c h i v e d  I n f o r m a t i o n

   FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE             Contact:  Tom Lyon (202) 401-1220    June 30, 1994                          U.S. Department of Education                                      Ermette Pruce (202) 606-5000 x286                                       Corporation for National Service

WINNERS OF 65 NEW LEARN AND SERVE AMERICA GRANTS MAKE COMMUNITY SERVICE AN INTEGRAL PART OF COLLEGE EXPERIENCE

U.S. Secretary of Education Richard W. Riley today joined the Corporation for National Service in naming 65 colleges and universities as winners of new Learn and Serve America higher education grants to establish service-learning programs that benefit local communities.

Totaling $6.75 million, the new Learn and Serve America grants provided by the Corporation for National Service will enable colleges to make community service an integral part of the student's educational experience. In addition, education awards to 11 of the 65 winners will enable them to sponsor 222 full-time members of AmeriCorps, President Clinton's national service initiative.

Learn and Serve America gives college students an opportunity to apply academic training and real-world experience to community problem solving. "We are encouraged by the large number of new partnerships that will be formed between colleges and their local schools and communities centers," Riley said. "Learn and Serve America will support a much needed alliance among these institutions in which college students can serve as mentors, tutors, and role models to help our youth reconnect with their education and future opportunities."

The secretary also said: "These new Learn and Serve America grants will provide important teacher training and technical assistance to develop the capacity of elementary and secondary schools to use learning in the community to improve instruction, particularly in the sciences".

The corporation's flagship program -- AmeriCorps -- will be fully launched in September. By year's end it will engage up to 20,000 members in critical service to communities nationwide. In exchange for one or two years of service, AmeriCorps members will receive education awards to finance their higher education or to repay college loans. "I am pleased that AmeriCorps national service priorities include school readiness and school success for our children and youth as important objectives," Riley said.

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