Pizza on a Dime
Have you guys ever seen that horribly catchy commercial for bagel bites? If you grew up in the 90s, like myself, you probably know all the words: “Pizza in the morning, pizza in the evenin’, pizza at suppertime! When pizza’s on a bagel, you can eat pizza anytime!” Pure lyrical gold! If you haven’t seen it, or need a refresher course, check out the video below:
Not only does this song still play in my head (and heart) to this day, but I also have a constant craving for those soggy pizza bagel morsels. Sadly, now that my mom lives three hours away, my taste buds don’t often reach pizza bagel euphoria (they’re like five bucks a box!). I’ve had to improvise.
These days I make real pizza — man food (or lady food)! Making pizza from scratch is way easier than I ever imagined and tastes a hundred times better then any microwaved bagel/pizza hybrid. Here is my fool proof recipe for pizza lovers who are on a budget.
*Click “continue reading” for the recipe.
Mysteries of the Education Award Revealed!
This man knows a thing or two about the AmeriCorps education award.
AmeriCorps members in NW Washington, you are invited to attend a free training on using your education award, hosted by the Northwest Washington Reading Corps, starring Bradon Rogers, AmeriCorps Education Award Extraordinnaire.
MARK YOUR CALENDARS!
Friday, June 18th, 10:00 am* – 1:00 pm at the Burlington Public Library, 820 E. Washington Ave, Burlington, WA.
We at Serve Northwest Wa are very lucky because we live in the same state as Brandon Rogers, who knows a thing or two about the AmeriCorps education award.
Brandon served with the National Service Fellowship program in 2001, with the task of helping former AmeriCorps members better understand the financial aid process when applying to college. What he discovered, however, was that many AmeriCorps members were actually losing valuable education money and paying ridiculous taxes because of misunderstandings of how the education award should be used to pay for college tuition.
Thankfully for all of us, Brandon changed his project focus to help clarify the rules about the education award with financial aid offices across the country. His study also gave recommendations to the Department of Education and the National Service Trust on how to better communicate with each other so that former AmeriCorps members will be able to maximize their education awards.
If you have recently filled out a FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid), then you have seen Brandon’s handiwork. Worksheet C on the FAFSA asks you to report any AmeriCorps income earned in the past tax year, including your living stipend and payments made with your education award. This amount of money automatically gets deducted from your income, which is the amount of money that determines how much aid you will get. So if you were an AmeriCorps member serving from January 1st to December 31st last year, ALL of your income would be deducted, and your contribution would be $0, thus qualifying you for the maximum amount of financial aid. Pretty cool, huh?
If it weren’t for Brandon’s findings and recommendations, many of us would continue to lose out on effectively paying for college. He’s a real AmeriCorps hero.
If you’d like to learn more about how to get the most out of your education award like paying for study abroad programs or buying a computer, then come to his workshop this Friday!
*Northwest Washington Reading Corps and ARRA AmeriCorps members will arrive at 9:00am for our regularly scheduled team meeting.
Now hiring for SCORE AmeriCorps!
AmeriCorps members sort toiletries for a local shelter.
We have been incredibly lucky this year to have an overwhelming number of applicants for the Northwest Washington Reading Corps. So many, in fact, that we are now having to wait list new applications. But that is not the end of your chances of getting a position with us!
If tutoring kids isn’t your thing, and you’d like to give back to the community by serving in AmeriCorps, then you should consider applying to SCORE AmeriCorps.
SCORE stands for Skagit County Opportunities, Resources, and Energy. The mission of SCORE AmeriCorps is to provide economic opportunity for disadvantaged individuals including financial literacy, housing assistance, job training, and nutritional assistance, and to address unmet energy-efficiency and environmental needs of low-income individuals in Skagit County.
This is a brand new program made possible by the Edward M. Kennedy Serve America Act of 2009. We have 12 positions available at various non-profit agencies in Skagit County. Here are a few of the places where our AmeriCorps State members will work:
- Habitat for Humanity
- Skagit Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Services
- Skagit Housing Authority
- Northwest Agriculture Business Center
- Community Action Housing Program
- Community Action Food Program
A few quick facts about this program:
- 12 AmeriCorps State positions on a team-based project
- All positions start September 1st and end July 15th
- Benefits: professional development, health benefits, travel reimbursement, student loan forbearance, $1050/monthly stipend, childcare, $5350 education award upon successful completion of service
For more information on SCORE AmeriCorps, contact Jennifer Rice at jen@servenorthwestwa.org or (360) 588-5720. To find positions on the AmeriCorps website, type “SCORE” in the advance search toolbar.
2010-2011 Reading Corps Applications on Wait List
A friendly notice from your NWWRC Program Assistant, Yana Way:
Because of the large number of incoming applications for the 2010-2011 service year, all future applicants will be put on a wait list. This isn’t to discourage you from applying (or reapplying), but positions have filled up quickly. Thanks for your patience and understanding.
On a related note, feel free to look here: http://nationaljobs.washingtonpost.com/a/all-jobs/list/q-Americorps… other AmeriCorps job opportunities can searched by city!
UW Law School Looking For Community Service On Resumes!
US News and World Report recently interviewed the higher ups at the University of Washington School of Law regarding the admission process, and it turns out that as of late, the UW has been specifically looking for ”commitment to public service” on post-college resumes as a way to filter applicants! This definitely includes the AmeriCorps VISTA and State positions, as well as Teach for America and the Peace Corps!
This is rad for us because even in our increasingly competetive workforce and education system, our year of service sets us apart in the eyes of school administrators, and that’s valuable beyond well beyond stipend and grant. Also, it’s good press on one of the (many) perks of what we do! Click here for the full story on this awesomeness!
Americorps: still awesome.
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