Youth program 'banks' dollars for college

  • Published
  • By Mark Wyatt
  • 66th Air Base Group Public Affairs
HANSCOM AIR FORCE BASE, Mass. --  The Youth Employment Skills program is an on-base youth volunteer program funded by the Air Force Aid Society to provide high-school aged dependents an opportunity to bank volunteer dollar credits toward post-secondary education. Effective June 1, volunteers will earn $6 per volunteer hour.

The YES program is offered to full-time enrolled high school students who are dependents of active duty Title 10 Air Force members and is jointly administered by AFAS and Airman and Family Services Flight.

"This program offers students valuable work skills, an opportunity to make a difference in their community and earn up to $1,500 for college," said Amy Wenrich, Youth Center program assistant.

Wenrich explains that program incentives are in the form of dollar credits for grant funding.

"Students may accumulate as many as 250 hours during all four years of high school," she said.

In addition to students 'banking' money, participating base youth programs benefit, too.

"The Hanscom Youth Center will 'bank' base community credits at a rate of $2 for every hour a student volunteers, up to a maximum of $10,000 per program year," said Colleen Davis, Youth Center director, responsible for managing the YES program as part of Airman and Family Services Flight.

A program year is defined as June 1 through May 31, Davis explained.

Eligible students must sign a written agreement.

"After they are selected for participation, students and an active duty parent must sign the written agreement stating that the student is an on-base volunteer, not a paid employee," said Wenrich.

Students must also complete a YES Enrollment Application, completed by the student and the sponsoring active duty parent. Students must complete this application each program year.

"Submission of an application does not guarantee enrollment approval," said Davis.

Only notification from AFAS headquarters to Youth Center directors will be considered as final enrollment approval in the YES program.

Hours must be volunteered in an on-base position approved by Davis and AFAS as appropriate for the YES program. AFAS has final approval on all positions requested.

Those participating must earn a minimum of 25 volunteer hours, or $100 in credits, for disbursement. All credits will be disbursed in the form of grant funds.

To learn more about the YES program, visit www.afas.org/yes-program. For further information on local volunteer opportunities, visit the Youth Center or call 781-225-6043.