By Elisabeth Zarnoti '17

Jazmine Kenny ‘16 is in her second year as an after-hours curriculum developer for at-risk youth at the YMCA of Knox County. The opportunity was made available to Kenny through KnoxCorps, the community service collaboration between Knox and the Galesburg Community Foundation.

Currently in its third year, KnoxCorps sponsors a dozen Knox graduates (Fellows) and current students (Associates), who volunteer at non-profit organizations like Discovery Depot Children's Museum and FISH Food Pantry.

“When the YMCA interviewed me, it went very well. I could see myself working there,” Kenny said. As an Associate, she holds a two-year contact where she volunteers eight hours a week with KnoxCorps. Fellows hold 10-month positions and receive a stipend.

She cites the opportunities that Knox offers as a close-knit community as a major factor when she applied to KnoxCorps. “Knox is a place where you don't disappear,” she remarked.

The KnoxCorps program gives students the chance to gain valuable work experience and gives non-profit organizations the ability to work with Knox alumni and current students to better the Galesburg community.

“Meeting people in the community is just as valuable as meeting people here (at Knox),” Kenny said. “It's really important to keep an open mind when you meet people from Galesburg because they are a part of our community, too.”

Pictured above is KnoxCorps Fellow Devin Compton '14 volunteering at the Knox Prairie Community Kitchen. 

KnoxCorps Fellows (recent graduates)

• Kristine Ilagen '14, F & M Bank Fellow serving Discovery Depot Children's Museum
• Devin Compton '14, G. L. Vitale Family Foundation Fellow serving the Galesburg Convention & Visitors Bureau
• Nicole Spencer '14, Knox County Health Department Fellow serving the Knox County Health Department
• Marta Schneider '14, HumanLinks Foundation Fellow serving the Sustainable Business Center

KnoxCorps Associates (current students)

• Kati Stemple '16, KnoxCorps Associate serving CASA
• Maya Flores '15, KnoxCorps Associate serving Carl Sandburg College (returning)
• Alexia Vasilopoulos '15, KnoxCorps Associate serving the Downtown Council
• Almira Karajic '17, KnoxCorps Associate serving FISH Food Pantry
• Laura Ernst '15, KnoxCorps Associate serving Galesburg Public Library (returning)
• Leslie Carman '15, KnoxCorps Associate serving Knox Prairie Community Kitchen
• Emily Roberts '17, KnoxCorps Associate serving the United Way of Knox County
• Jazmine Kenny '16, KnoxCorps Associate serving the YMCA of Knox County (returning)