Two AmeriCorps alums from Washington win Service Year Alum Awards

WASHINGTON, D.C.— Service Year, an organization that supports making national service part of the American experience, service has named Washington state AmeriCorps alums Nemanja Demic and Christina Serna as recipients of Service Year Alum Awards.

The Service Year Alums Awards recognize and celebrate outstanding alums across the national service community for their contributions during their service years and beyond. This diverse network is composed of AmeriCorps Alums, returned Peace Corps volunteers, YouthBuild alums, and alums from various service year programs across the country.

In 2024, the awards highlight service year alums successful in bridging divides across lines of difference and fostering positive change in their communities.

Nemanja Demic completed three years of service in AmeriCorps between 2018 and 2020. He spent his first year in Americorps at City Year Chicago, helping struggling students improve academically. He served for two years at Reading Partners Seattle, first as a program coordinator and then as a senior volunteer coordinator.

Reading Partners is a non-profit organization that engages community volunteers to provide students with proven, individualized reading support they need to read at grade level by fourth grade.

Read Nemanja Demic’s story from Service Year.

Christina Serna served with an AmeriCorps program with the American Red Cross in Cle Elum from 2011-2013.

At the start of Serna’s service year, the community was reeling from the devastation caused by the Taylor Bridge and Table Mountain Complex Fires. Her service year experience helped restore the damaged environment though reforestation project aimed at restoring damaged lands and promoting environmental awareness. Along the way, she bridged divides by bringing together residents with differing opinions on how to rebuild—some wanted immediate reconstruction, others focused on long-term environmental recovery. Christina also led the establishment of a military memorial, honoring service members and further uniting the community. She listened to each perspective, fostering mutual respect and collaboration, and facilitated a shared vision for recovery.

Read Christina Serna’s story from Service Year.

About Service Year Alliance

Service Year Alliance is working to make a year of paid, full-time service — a service year — a common expectation and opportunity for all young Americans. We envision a future in which national service is an integral part of growing up in America, with one million young people serving their communities each year. To make this vision a reality, we partner with states, agencies, and local organizations to expand the number of service year opportunities through new models and funding sources. To enhance the corps member and alumni experience, we develop partnerships to build and scale key national service innovations to demonstrate how service transforms lives. At the core of our work is a commitment to raising-up the voices and experiences of young people, corps members, and alumni.