By Elise Goitia '18

KnoxCorps has launched into the 2015 academic year by recently selecting Knox College students and recent graduates to participate in the College's civic-engagement partnership with the Galesburg community.

KnoxCorps members are teamed with local nonprofit organizations, where they help with community programs and projects while gaining important work experience.

"The KnoxCorps program is unique in the fact that it allows me to work in a theatre, learn about the community I love, and learn professional skills I will use in the future, all while working closely with a group of students and recent graduates who have a passion for building the community and themselves," said Missy Preston '15, a KnoxCorps fellow.

KnoxCorps fellows, or recently graduated students, receive a stipend while they spend 10 months working at their assignments. KnoxCorps associates, or current undergraduate students, volunteer off-campus at least eight hours a week to fulfill their two-year commitments.

Kati Stemple '16 says that Knox students often find themselves "trapped within a campus 'bubble' without realizing how much this town has to offer people." KnoxCorps provides an opportunity for students to connect with the people of Galesburg, she said.

"As a child, I spent several years in the foster care system, and my advocate from CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates of Knox County) was the one person in my life who encouraged me to speak up for my wants and needs," added Stemple. "By becoming an associate at CASA, I've been able to extend my knowledge of child advocacy and use my personal experiences to further the development of an already incredible organization."

KnoxCorps fellows and associates are matched to several nonprofit organizations in the Galesburg community, including the Galesburg Public Schools Foundation, the Galesburg Public Library, FISH Food Pantry, the Knox County Health Department, and the Knox Prairie Community Kitchen.

These are the KnoxCorps members for 2015-16:

• Payton Rose '15, KnoxCorps Fellow serving the Galesburg Area Convention and Visitors Bureau.
• William Marion '15, Galesburg Public Schools Foundation Fellow serving Galesburg School District 205.
• David Peterson '15, Galesburg Public Schools Foundation Fellow serving Galesburg School District 205.
• Chris Navarette '15 Knox County Health Department Fellow serving the Knox County Health Department.
• Missy Preston '15, KnoxCorps Fellow serving the Orpheum Theatre.
• Kati Stemple '16, KnoxCorps Associate serving Court Appointed Special Advocates of Knox County, or CASA.
• Jazmine Kenny '16, KnoxCorps Associate serving Carl Sandburg College.
• Chase Skarda '16, KnoxCorps Associate serving Knox Prairie Community Kitchen, or KPCK.
• Emily Roberts '16, KnoxCorps Associate serving Galesburg Public Library.
• Andrew Jacobs '18, KnoxCorps Associate serving FISH Food Pantry.
• Philip Shelly '18, KnoxCorps Associate serving Galesburg Downtown Council.
• Greta Berger '18, KnoxCorps Associate serving United Way of Knox County.
• Monika Kopec '17, KnoxCorps Associate serving YMCA of Knox County.

(Photo at top: Andrew Jacobs, KnoxCorps associate, is serving the FISH Food Pantry.)