Amanda Wheeler from Mechanic Falls will graduate from the AmeriCorps National Civilian Community Corps (NCCC) on Thursday, July 21 at 7 p.m. This graduation marks the completion of a ten-month term of “getting things done” for America.

Throughout the 10 month term, Wheeler has spent seven weeks in Lancaster, Pa., working with the Lancaster County Conservancy to restore a forest back to its natural grassland so that a rare serpentine barren can grow. Wheeler also spent six weeks in Columbus, Ohio, working with a local theatre company called Vaud-Villities to help increase economic growth by turning a run-down movie theatre into a working acting theatre. Other non-profits Wheeler has worked with include Turning the Page; a DC organization that helps the literacy program in public schools, The Telamon Corporation from Richmond, Va.; an organization that builds straw-bale homes for migrant workers, and the Erie County Conservation District out of Erie, Pa.; a non-profit that helps keep wetlands in Erie County.

The graduation ceremony will take place at the Jefferson Memorial in Washington, D.C. David Eisner, CEO of the Corporation for National and Community Service will address the graduates, as well as local media icon Maureen Bunyan of WJLA, an ABC affiliate.

Inspired by the Civilian Conservation Corps of the 1930’s, AmeriCorps NCCC members complete service projects in the focus on the areas of the environment, education, public safety/homeland security, disaster relief and unmet human needs.

AmeriCorps NCCC members are assigned to one of five campuses located in the United States and complete 1,700 hours of community service throughout their 10-month term. Wheeler has successfully completed the program along with 129 other AmeriCorps NCCC members and 17 team leaders who will complete their service at the Capital Region Campus located in Washington, D.C. The Capital Region serves communities in the District of Columbia, Virginia, West Virginia, Pennsylvania and Ohio.

Corps members, all aged 18 to 24, must complete 1,700 hours of service during their 10-month commitment. In exchange for their service, Corps Members receive $4,725 to help pay for college or repay student loans. AmeriCorps is administered by the Corporation for National and Community Service. Interested applicants are encouraged to apply now. Many programs have no upper age limit. For more information, visit www.americorps.org or call 1-800-942-2677.