End of Service Ceremony

AmeriCorps Members are expected to attend the End of Service Ceremony to present their Reflection Project and complete their required Life After AmeriCorps Training requirement. Failure to attend this training, without reasonable notice or a compelling circumstance, will result in forfeiture of the education award.

Reflection Projects are meant to be as individual as the member’s experience. No two will be the same. These are meant to spur creativity in a meaningful way for members. The project must be something that can be physically turned in. If it is electronic, it must be submitted to the AmeriCorps Director by the due date. All Reflection Projects MUST be your own work. Reflection Projects must all be submitted to the AmeriCorps Director before the member can exit the program.

Reflection is an important process for all AmeriCorps Members. Reflection transforms experience into genuine learning about individual values and goals and about larger social issues. Reflection challenges members to connect service activities to personal objectives and to develop higher-level thinking and problem solving. Reflection works against the perpetuation of stereotypes by raising members' awareness of the social structures surrounding service environments. By fostering a sense of connection to the community and a deeper awareness of community needs, reflection increases the likelihood that the member will remain committed to service beyond the term of service. Understanding gained from your reflection can be taken with you into future AmeriCorps terms or into Life After AmeriCorps.

Project Guidelines:

Reflection Projects are meant to be as individual as the member’s experience. No two will be the same. These are meant to spur creativity in a meaningful way for members. The project must be something that can be physically turned in. If it is electronic, it must be submitted to the Program Director by the due date. All Reflection Projects MUST be your own work.

Reflection Project Ideas:

• Artwork: Picture Collage, Painting, Comic Book, Scrap Book, Memory Box, Member Trading Cards, ABC Book
• Electronic: Powerpoint/Prezi Portfolio Presentation, Short Film, video tutorial, Movie Trailer, Wordles
• Written: Learning Journals, Blog, Sketch noting, Research Paper, Mini-Books, Magazine, Poems, Letter to Yourself
• Peer-Projects: Peer Survey, Peer-Picture Collage
• Create your own idea!

You must be able to answer the following questions with your reflection project or during the presentation of your reflection project:

1. What was your overall impression of your term of service?
2. What was the most rewarding part of your service?
3. What was the most challenging part of your service? How did you overcome this challenge?
4. What impact have you left on your community?
5. What impact has been left with you?

REFLECTION PROJECT DUE DATES: