LLHS Presidential Volunteer Service Award




  •  INFORMATION SHEET

    The President’s Volunteer Service Award and

    The Las Lomas High School Service Award

    What is Community Service?

    Community Service is a non-paying job performed by a student for the benefit of the community or an institution.

     

    What is the President’s Volunteer Service Award?

    The President’s Volunteer Service Award (PVSA) is a highly coveted award that recognizes the contributions of volunteers who have demonstrated outstanding volunteer service and civic participation over the course of a 12-month period.

     

    What is the Las Lomas High School Volunteer Service Award?

    Similar to the PVSA, this award recognizes students with significant volunteer service hours within a 12-month period who fall short of achieving the President’s award levels.

     

    What is the 12-month period?

    Both the PVSA and Las Lomas School Volunteer Service Award periods run from April 1 - March 31.

     

    What are the service award levels?

    Hours are measured over a 12-month period and awards are designated based on cumulative hours.  The PVSA is offered in multiple levels and is designed to recognize each milestone of your service achievement.  Levels include bronze, silver and gold. The Las Lomas High School Award recognizes students who have completed 30-49 hours of service for the year for teens, and 30-99 hours of service for the year for young adults.

     

    Does my age determine the service award level?

    Yes.  Each level has an age category; Teen (ages 11-15) and Young Adult (ages 16-25) .  The age category is determined by your age at the end of the 12-month period reported.  Students with service hours both before and after turning 16 years may consider reporting ONLY the hours served up to their 16th birthday in order to qualify for the Teen (under 16) category.

     


    All hours by age must be within the 12-month period and not overlap with a prior award time period

     

    What are the qualifications?

    • Service hours must be unpaid and not earn school credit.

    • Service hours must not include court-ordered community service.

    • Service hours related to political lobbying or political campaign work do not count.

    • Service hours for religious instruction or worship do not count.

    • Service hours must be for an organization based in the United States or Puerto Rico.  Service hours outside of the U.S. can qualify if the service is for a U.S/Puerto Rico-based organization.

    • The President’s Volunteer Service Award is awarded only to U.S. citizens and legal residents; there are no residency restrictions to earn the Las Lomas High School Volunteer Service Award.

     

    How do I track my service hours?

    Each Las Lomas Student will track total service hours using the LLHS Volunteer Service google form and verify each of the hours using the Volunteer Service Verification document.

     

    How do I apply for a service award?

    By entering your hours into the google form you are already considered for a service award.  Please see the chart above for the number of hours needed for each service award level.

     

    When do I apply for a service award?

    The community service 12-month calendar runs from April 1 - March 31, each year.  All community service hours must be completed within that timeframe to be considered for an award.  In addition, all entries and verifications must be submitted by April 15. 

    What are some examples of qualifying service activities?

     

    Qualifying Service Examples

    Non-Qualifying Service Examples

    • Contra Costa Food Bank

    • Boy Scout and Girl Scout Volunteer Service

    • National Charity League or Boys Team Charity

    • Hospital (John Muir)

    • Special Olympics

    • Mission Trips (Organizations must be in the U.S. or Puerto Rico

    • Voter Registration

    • Key Club Activities

    • Peer tutoring (not for a grade)

    • Voter Registration

    • Babysitting

    • Religious worship

    • Leadership Activities through the Leadership Class

    • Fostering animals

    • Sports Medicine Volunteer hours required for class

    • Court Ordered community service

    • Politically-related lobbying or campaign work

    • Peer Tutoring for a grade

    • TA work for a grade

     

    What are the guidelines around what service activities qualify?

     

    Organization

    Guidance 

    • Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts

    • National Charity League

    • Boys Team Charity

    Volunteer hours qualify as long as they are active volunteer hours.  Hours for meetings, events and financial donations will not receive credit.  You will not receive credit for hours worked by others supporting your project.

    Performing Arts (Drama/Choir/Band)

    Most performance time is considered extra-curricular and does not count.  Performing at a community event or fundraiser for free is considered service hours if there is no school credit and no payment. Performing at church or a school musical would not count as it is considered extra-curricular.

    Camps

    Students volunteering at an overnight camp should only include hours in which they are actively working.  Meals, sleeping, and non-active volunteer time do not count.

    Mission Trips

    Only active volunteer hours count.  You may not include hours spent traveling, sleeping, eating, team-bonding etc.

    Religious Organizations

    Activities benefiting those outside the religious organization are eligible (i,e, food banks) while activities benefiting the religious organization are considered extra-curricular (i.e. choir, youth group, alter server) and do not count. 

    Political Activities and Voter Registration

    Political lobbying or campaign work does not qualify.  Non-partisan voter registration is eligible.

    Internships and Volunteer Work for a Business

    In general, unpaid work for a business is considered an internship, benefitting the student and the business and will not count as active volunteer hours.

     

    Where can I find Volunteer Service Opportunities?

    Volunteer service opportunities can be found through the College and Career Center, Counseling Office or Wellness Center.

     

    What is the Excellence in Community Service Recognition?

    Students who have earned a minimum of 300 hours of volunteer service, over the course of 3 years will be eligible for the Excellence in Community Service Recognition. Students will receive a light blue honor cord to be worn at graduation commemorating their extraordinary commitment to community service throughout high school.

    What are the qualifications for the Excellence in Community Service Recognition?

    • Earn the President’s Service Award for 3 years beginning with your freshman year.

    • Complete a minimum of 300 hours of volunteer service; 50 of those hours must be completed in your senior year before December 15.

     

    Questions?

    For any questions please email bshahvar@auhsdschools.org or stop by Ms. Shahvar’s office behind the attendance desk.