- The AmeriCorps agency has indefinitely suspended the Presidential Volunteer Service Award.
- Marking Lynbrook’s first year without the award, Interact and California Scholarship Federation continue to engage members in meaningful community service.
- Members of previously PVSA certified clubs highlight the reward of making a positive impact on their community.
The Presidential Volunteer Service Award program was paused indefinitely on May 27 following budget cuts to AmeriCorps, the government agency funding the initiative. Historically honoring students for volunteer work, 2025-26 marks Lynbrook’s first school year without the award program, leaving clubs on campus like Interact and California Scholarship Federation without this national platform for student recognition. Despite the pause, members continued volunteering and found value beyond the award.
In 2003, PVSA began recognizing Americans of all ages for their service with bronze, silver, gold and lifetime awards based on the amount of service hours recorded in a 12-month period. Recipients were honored with a certificate, medallion and a letter of recognition from the United States president. Members of Interact and CSF utilized this to have their service hours submitted and allowed for club members to qualify for awards.
“Members who were collecting hours with us might’ve been close to their service goal starting from their one year mark,” senior and co-president of Interact Jessica Lee said. “The sudden pause could’ve been discouraging, especially when we have been motivating them consistently.”
Another concern among officers was losing PVSA as a marketing point. Although PVSA was a strong selling point for Interact, its membership surprisingly increased in the past year. This trend was unexpected, but it confirmed for Lee that the pause didn’t affect the student’s motivation to volunteer.
“PVSA is a good incentive,” Lee said, “but once you get involved with the community and start volunteering, that sense of fulfillment is what makes involvement meaningful and sustainable.”
While some members of Interact and CSF formed meaningful connections through volunteering at tutoring sessions and elementary school events, others learned to manage their time and communicate with people of all ages and backgrounds.
“One of my favorite memories of volunteering was when I was handing out water bottles at a marathon,” junior and CSF member Harshini Vishwanathan said. “People were really thankful for the water, and it was nice to help out and see the actual impact of my work.”
CSF awarded three members the PVSA award last year, including senior and co-president Ryan Liu. Though he worked hard to earn the silver award, he considered the experience more rewarding than the recognition.
“I’ve met a lot of my best friends through CSF,” Liu said. “I was volunteering for the fun of it, not really for the hours or the award.”
Even without the national recognition that the PVSA provides, CSF still offers members the chance to earn scholarships and to wear a golden stole at graduation through active participation. Interact offers their own stole as well, and also rewards the member with the most points at the end of each semester with a prize.
“The stole is something you can carry with you at graduation, but it’s also for the memories of volunteering,” senior and gold PVSA recipient Jason Wu said.
AmeriCorps now directs volunteers to the Points of Light program, which recognizes a volunteer every weekday.. Though it’s uncertain when PVSA might return, students and service clubs continue to celebrate members and their community work, maintaining the value of service and of the lasting impacts on our community.
“I hope people will continue volunteering to help the community and have fun, even without the award,” junior and bronze PVSA recipient Aditi Skandan said.
