Learn and Serve Ohio

North Olmsted Receives 2006 Spirit of Service Award

The Corporation for National and Community Service honored the SITES program of North Olmsted, Ohio with a 2006 Spirit of Service Award for their hard work and dedication as an outstanding Learn and Serve America program. The Spirit of Service Awards pay tribute to the most outstanding participants in each of the Corporation’s three main program—Senior Corps, AmeriCorps, and Learn and Serve America—as well as to outstanding private sector partners. Honorees are selected because they have exemplified the spirit of national service, demonstrated exceptional service or leadership, and served as role models for others.

In North Olmsted, more than 1,400 students have contributed more than 250,000 service hours to the community through the SITES program since it was established 15 years ago by North Olmsted High School teachers Robert J. Pierce and Christine Kilbane-Pierce. The three-credit, interdisciplinary program integrates 12th grade English and social studies with an elective credit in community service-learning. For the latter course, students perform five hours of weekly service at area agencies. They then analyze, discuss, and reflect on their experiences in both their English and social studies courses.

"These ‘Spirit of Service’ award winners have gone above and beyond the call to serve their nation and have brought excellence to our programs and critically needed services to their communities," said David Eisner, CEO of the Corporation for National and Community Service. In addition to addressing their own community needs, the SITES program serves as a Learn and Serve Ohio Model, assisting other schools with developing and improving service-learning programs of their own. Congratulations, North Olmsted!