President's Student Service Awards

The PSSA’s are a White House initiative to recognize K-5 through college students for outstanding community service in a 12-month period. Students must be nominated by a school or organization, not by a parent. If you incorporate a group to cover the volunteer time for the Congressional Awards, that organization can nominate the students, and the same volunteer hours can be used for both award programs.

Fund-raising, school and church activities are not acceptable volunteer time for either awards – unless they service the community at large. There are two levels of PSS Awards: Silver and Gold. The Silver Award requires 50 hours of volunteer time, 100 hours is required for the Gold Award.

The PSSA also can lead to scholarship money. Since the governing body works through local schools to choose qualifying students to receive the money, at this time, you can approach your local public high school about sponsoring your homeschooled student for this scholarship. Another avenue is to approach a private high school about sponsoring and selecting your 11th or 12th grade homeschool student for a scholarship.

An awesome part is that all medals from the Congressional Awards program are awarded through your Congressman. For us, the exhilaration of accomplishment was enhanced by the thrill of receiving the Silver Medal and two Gold PSSA’s from our Congressman who was familiar with and favorable towards homeschoolers.

To find out more or register for the Congressional Awards contact them at: www.congressionalaward.org. The Congressional Award Foundation, PO Box 77440, Washington, DC 20013. 202-226-0130

The PSSA’s contact information: http://www.cns.gov/challenge/ or 
http://www.student-service-awards.org/ or 1-866-545-5307 or President’s Volunteer Service Awards, c/o Points of Light Foundation, 1400 I Street, NW Suite 800, Washington, DC 20005.