As a past Citizen Scholar stated, “this is a unique, genuine, and beneficial opportunity for not only me but the people in my community”. The M3C Citizen Scholar AmeriCorps Program at Ball State University has been in place since 2005, serving 71 student members who have completed a total of 18,000 community service hours and recruited 337 additional volunteers to become civically engaged in the local community.  The program serves a diverse population of freshman and sophomore students who are first-generation, transfer or young parents.  Currently, there are 12 Citizen Scholars who are each serving 300 hours and recruiting 5 non-AmeriCorps members during the academic year.  As Dr. JoAnn Gora, Ball State President stated a “long tradition at the university is to create highly qualified immersive experiences for student in addition to their academics”.  The M3Cprogram does just this by establishing community partners for our students through volunteerism in our local community.

     The educational programs which have been completed this year include MLK Children’s Program, volunteering at several after school programs for academic success, and post-secondary education for peers at Ball State.  From the strategic chart, objective 1 was reached by working in the Muncie community at several different programs to provide academic support for students.  Another Citizen Scholar commented; “this program has opened my eyes to different situations and issues in education allowing me to take action to be involved in a child’s life”.  The children continue to return each week to interact and learn from the M3C students. 

    In looking at the strategic plan, objective 2 was met in serving with agencies in the community.  Motivate Our Minds (MOMs) has partnered in having M3C students serve in recruiting volunteers, training volunteers, and tracking hours, and interactions with the children.  Yvonne Doyle, Director of MOMs, believes “the enrichment received by the children and M3C students has encouraged success academically for the children in grades 1 through 8”.

    Students have achieved objective 3 by implementing the Week of Action in educating other students at the university about local and world poverty issues.   This was achieved through a poverty simulation, Talk the Walk which works to educate others on current issues, and a community service project with Second Harvest, the local food bank.  Furthermore, the students came together in learning about one another’s struggles and achievements academically in weekly meetings. 

   Overall, the Ball State M3C program has been sustainable in recruiting, volunteering, forming strong relationships with local agencies, and challenging its members to grow personally.  Education continues to be a focus for this program in and out of the classroom for student’s success.  In 2009-2010, the Ball State Program had 91.66% retention in students completing the program requirements compared to the university rating of other Pell Grants being only 68%.  The impact that the M3C program has on the students and community is apparent from the agencies overwhelming support, academic support of students, and retention of the M3C students.