Cleveland Rippons receives All AmeriCorps Award

SALISBURY, MD---Cleveland Rippons, a former AmeriCorps member with ShoreCorps/PALS at Salisbury State University recently received an All AmeriCorps Award. Rippons, one of the 10 recipients, from across the country, served with President Bill Clinton as part of the national Martin Luther King Day of Service.

Rippons received the "Strengthening Communities" Award as a result of his AmeriCorps service with the Dorchester County Health Department. During his time at the health department, Rippons revamped the Youth Ambassadors Program and increased participation from seven to 130 students who tutor and mentor area elementary and middle school students. Rippons said he saw the program as a way to get a diverse group of young people together to solve community problems.

“Some of the young ambassadors are kids who had serious trouble growing up and felt disconnected from society, and through the program, these young people have developed an interest in their communities and schools,” Rippons said. 

"Over the past six years nearly 200,000 men and women have taken the AmeriCorps' pledge to get things done for America," said Harris Wofford, CEO of the Corporation for National Service, which oversees AmeriCorps.  "I salute Cleveland Rippons for his outstanding service, patriotism and commitment.  He represents the best of America, and I hope others will follow his example of service to our country."

The Corporation for National Service was established in 1993 to engage Americans in service to their communities. The Corporation oversees AmeriCorps, Learn and Serve America and the National Senior Corps, which offer millions the opportunity to serve their communities. The SSU chapter of ShoreCorps/PALS was created through the primary guidance of SSU Psychology Professor Dr. George Whitehead.

For information call 410-548-5119, or visit the AmeriCorps website at www.americorps.org.