The Silver Cord Program is a somewhat new opportunity here at AHS. It was started by the Chamber of Commerce only 3 years ago. The purpose of the program is to “encourage volunteering within our community,” guidance counselor Michelle Huber said. Students must complete a minimum of 200 hours of volunteer work by the end of their senior year to graduate with a silver cord around their neck at commencement. They will also be eligible for a $500 scholarship given by the Chamber.

To be eligible to receive the scholarship, students must complete all necessary volunteer hours and write a 1-2 page essay outlining what they learned about themselves through volunteering. After a student has met the following criteria, the Chamber of Commerce selects one senior to receive the scholarship.

However, according to Huber, there are some rules that go along with the program. For instance, students may not count paid work as volunteer hours. They also cannot “double-dip” their hours. This means a student may not volunteer for a different program and count those hours toward Silver Cord. It must be one or the other. Lastly, students are not allowed to complete more than half of their hours in one place.

Last Thursday, Programs Director Ashley Hayes and Executive Director Bailey Smith of the Chamber of Commerce came to AHS to talk to the freshman class about this opportunity. “It’s beneficial for the students for several reasons. Colleges look on your applications for volunteering, so if they see you have been giving back to your community, they may put you up to the top of their list,” Hayes said. Adding to that, Hayes said community members love to see younger people “actually doing something within the community.”

After listening to Hayes and Smith, freshman Kennedy Goergen said, “I don’t think I’m going to do the program mostly because only one person gets the scholarship. I don’t feel it’s worth putting in 200 hours when I’m so busy already.” Huber encourages students to “at least try to get involved because 200 hours or, 50 hours per year, is not hard to do.”

On the other hand, freshman Collin Mullenix feels the program is “an easy way to put money toward a college fund.” Senior Emily Saeugling said she wanted to get involved when she was a sophomore, but was involved with too many activities already. “I think it’s a really cool program and a great way for students to serve others.”