Highland Lakes resident to complete 10 months of service

VERNON — Collen Aquino of Highland Lakes is one of 150 men and women who has pledged to perform 10 months of national service as part of the Southern Region’s 21st Class of the National Civilian Community Corps, as a member of FEMA Corps.

As part of her service, Aquino will spend 10 months serving with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) in the administration of emergency management and long term recovery activities.

“I originally heard about AmeriCorps NCCC FEMA Corps through AmeriCorps service scholars during undergraduate school, through an invitation to serve, from the director of community service at Cedar Crest College,” Aquino said.

Aquino will graduate on May 7, 2015, with an education award of $5,645, which can be used to continue education or pay back qualified student loans.

“I am constantly motivated to serve my community through my experiences of volunteering, whether I am building handicap ramps, or doing road side cleanups," Aquino said. "I have found my service to others to be more worthwhile than any other experiences I have had."