LEWISTON — Starting this fall, there’ll be a new community service pilot program at Lewiston High School.

If the program goes well, community service will become part of the school’s graduation requirements the next year, requiring five hours of service per student per year.

The Lewiston School Committee unanimously approved the plan on Monday night.

Three students, Peggy Matheny, Brittany Virgin and Lee Morin, appeared before the committee asking for the program.

“We all feel this is an important thing to do for our community and school, because it makes us better citizens, giving back to our community because it gives so much to us,” Matheny said.

Next year interested students will receive suggestions of where they can volunteer, from nursing homes to soup kitchens.

Matheny just graduated from Lewiston High and won’t be at the school next year, but she said there are more than a dozen students who will be able to carry out the student-driven plan.

Matheny pointed out that other high schools, including Edward Little and St. Dominic Regional High School, have community service programs where students help their community and give back.

She didn’t have to do much lobbying. School committee members were thrilled with the students’ proposal, unanimously approved the pilot, and praised and thanked the students.

Committee chairman Jim Handy said if it becomes part of the graduation requirements he wants to see more than five hours a year per student. That number is too small. But “I’m excited to see this come across our desks. It’s desperately needed,” Handy said.

In other business, the committee approved a new program at the high school’s Teen Parent Center. The program will be provided by the Child Health Center in Auburn, and will be paid for by a federal grant, said health center Executive Director Rob Hatch.

The program, “Be Proud! Be Responsible! Be Protective” is geared to provide support to prevent teen mothers from becoming pregnant a second time, Hatch said.

This year between six and eight high school students brought their babies to the center so they could attend school. The Teen Parent Center provides day care and parenting training.