(Posted November 15, 2010)

HUNTINGDON, Pa. -- Jessica Maxon, Americorps representative at Juniata College and a 2009 graduate of the college, received the Gold Presidential Volunteer Service Award from the President's Council on Service and Civic Participation for her volunteer work during the 2009-2010 academic year.

Maxon is required by Americorps to perform 1,700 hours of service over a year and she qualified for the service award by marking about 2,300 hours of service. She will receive a letter from President Barack Obama, a plaque and a pin to commemorate her award.

Maxon is required by Americorps to perform 1,700 hours of service over a year and she qualified for the service award by marking about 2,300 hours of service. She will receive a letter from President Barack Obama, a plaque and a pin to commemorate her award.

Maxon is a member of the Pennsylvania Mountain Service Corps, an Americorps regional office in Ebensburg, Pa. that assigns volunteers to 16 counties across south-central Pennsylvania.

Maxon's assigned site is Juniata College, where she is starting her second year as the college's Americorps representative. As part of her responsibilities, she coordinates on-campus service days, the Bonner Leaders program, the Community Work-Study Program and service-learning trips.

Individuals, families and teams from all across the United States, whether they are affiliated with AmeriCorps or not, can earn the presidential award by completing 500 hours of service in a calendar year. AmeriCorps members must do at least 500 hours of service over their requirement to earn the award. Maxon was the only AmeriCorps member in the central Pennsylvania region to earn the Gold Award.

Contact April Feagley at feaglea@juniata.edu or (814) 641-3131 for more information.