The State of Alaska, Department of Education and Early Development (EED) and the Rural Alaska Community Action Program, Inc. (RurAL CAP) announce eight new AmeriCorps Members from seven schools in Alaska will participate in an Oath of Service ceremony on Friday, August 6th, 12:00 – 1:00 pm, dedicating one year of their lives to helping middle school students succeed through the Middle School Partnership Project.  Participating schools include Anthony A. Andrews School in St. Michael, Hooper Bay School in Hooper Bay, Ignatius Beans School in Mountain Village, Tukurngailnguq in Stebbins, Ryan Middle School in Fairbanks, North Pole Middle School in North Pole (two AmeriCorps members), Gruening Middle School in Eagle River, and Mears Middle School in Anchorage will participate with an AmeriCorps Member in the near future.

 The Middle School Partnership Project is a new initiative to increase middle school student success sponsored by EED, RurAL CAP, Serve Alaska and many additional partners. The program utilizes community partnerships, parent involvement and volunteerism to engage students in meaningful relationship and skill-building activities. Each of the eight participating schools will work with its community to decide its own strategies and actions to improve student academic achievement, school attendance, sense of belonging and connectedness.

 Eight AmeriCorps Members, their school-assigned supervisors, parents from participating communities and program partners – including Alaska PTA, Alaska Parent Information and Resource Center, United Way, Big Brothers Big Sisters, Boys and Girls Clubs, Alaska Post Secondary Commission, Serve Alaska, Anchorage’s Promise, AK Community Services, ASD, HSS-OCS, Alaska Children’s Trust.