Thanks and Goodbye from an AmeriCorps VISTA
My year of serving as the Success By 6 AmeriCorps VISTA at United Way of Lake County is drawing to a close, so I’d like to say thank you to everyone who made it possible and helped me have such an impact. When I started back in June 2015, I jumped right in working with Kindergarten Countdown Camp, which started just a couple weeks after I started.
AmeriCorps VISTA member, Nicole Delaney, helps a child read at the Kindergarten Countdown Camp.
Kindergarten Camp was a great experience to start my time at United Way of Lake County because I was able to dive right into the community as well as work behind the scenes to ensure the program ran smoothly while measuring results. From there, I kept busy with exciting and meaningful projects such as the Waukegan Kindergarten Readiness Assessment and much more. For my work throughout this year, I received the New Volunteer Award at the Annual Meeting, which was a big honor. I was even persuaded to take a selfie with Kristi Long, our CEO, and Scott Jones, our Board Chair, to celebrate the award.
Nicole receiving the Outstanding New Volunteer Award at United Way of Lake County’s Annual Meeting in May 2016.
The chance to have an impact in my community has been so meaningful, but it has only been one of the great parts of my year of service. I have also learned so much from my coworkers and supervisor at United Way of Lake County.
United Way Day, last summer, painting an early learning trail at the North Chicago Public Library.
Reflecting on my year, I want to thank everyone at United Way of Lake County who made my service year so meaningful, educational, and fun. I have learned so much while working here at United Way of Lake County and can’t wait to take that with me!
Now that my time here is ending, I am enrolling in graduate school. I have decided to pursue a Master of Public Service Administration at Texas A&M’s Bush School of Government and Public Service. I am very excited about this opportunity, but I know it would not have been possible without everything I learned here at UWLC. A million thank yous go out to everyone who has supported me and made this such an incredible experience!
