A group of 30 individuals gathered Wednesday afternoon at the Eldon High School and pledged the same promise: to get things done.
That call to action exemplifies these newly inducted PAVE (Partners Actively Volunteering in Education) AmeriCorps tutors' and wellness coaches' commitment to provide academic interventions and wellness programming for Eldon students.
PAVE AmeriCorps is a nationally funded, grant-based program directly benefiting Eldon and its surrounding areas. Even though there are several AmeriCorps programs throughout the country, PAVE programming provides tutors and wellness coaches in the Eldon R-1 School District.
"We receive a national grant - competing nationally not just at the state level - of $390,000 a year to support 30 AmeriCorps members," PAVE AmeriCorps Director Daphney Partridge said. "Those AmeriCorps members provide academic interventions to at-risk students and support wellness programming for kids to lead healthier, happier and more successful lives."
A tutor is placed at one of the five Eldon School District's campuses and provides one-on-one or small group tutoring on the needs at their assigned campus or classroom during the school day, as well as occasionally after school and on weekends, according to the program website.
A wellness coach assists in activities, including organized or alternative recess activities, nutrition education, facilitating walking/running clubs and administering "brain breaks" (scheduled class breaks for students to move, stretch and refocus) at their assigned campus.
The website said all tutors and wellness coaches serve 12 months and complete a minimum of 1,750 hours to be eligible for their end-of-service benefits, which include an education award of $5,775 (the amount of a Pell grant) in the member's name from the National Trust. This money could be used to repay qualified student loans or for current educational expenses.
Tutors and wellness coaches also have the opportunity to receive additional benefits during their service, including monthly allowance, health coverage, child care and student loan forbearance.
"If you stick with it, it is going to be a year of blessings. This program does not exist without blessings," state Rep. David Wood, R-Versailles said. "You are going to be touching lives and affecting lives, and for that you will always treasure this experience."
Before the members took their oath, each member delivered a personal mission statement for their service in the "circle of friends."
Comments included promoting personal health and wellness to enrich lives, improving academic lives of children, building relationships within the community and being that support they sometimes also need.
"I am not from Eldon but I am from Missouri, so you have to show me," said Eldon Alderman Sharon Cole. "After listening to this group of people, I am sure you are going to make a positive impact on these students and this community."
Partridge told new PAVE members they are embarking on a year of taking existing resources and amplifying them.
"I have been doing this for 11 years now, and the group we have carefully selected and hoped would be wonderful have already exceeded our expectations," she said.
For more information about PAVE AmeriCorps, visit PAVEAmeriCorps.weebly.com.