- What is the President’s Volunteer Service Award (PVSA)?
- How do I earn a President’s Volunteer Service Award?
- What do I get in the Award package?
- How do I receive an information package?
- What are the nomination guidelines?
- Do I have to be a member of a particular group to qualify for the PVSA?
- What is a certifying organization?
- Is there a cost associated with joining the UT Service and Civic Participation program?
- What are the ways I can apply for the PVSA?
- How can my progress be measured during the year?
- Is there a nomination deadline?
- Does the President’s Volunteer Service Awards offer scholarships, grants or application waivers?
- My username and password are not allowing me to log in, what should I do?
- Do I qualify if — I am not a U.S. resident/My group is not headquartered in the U.S./My volunteer service wasn’t done in the U.S.?
"The President's Council on Service and Civic Participation created the President's Volunteer Service Award program as a way to thank and honor Americans who, by their demonstrated commitment and example, inspire others to engage in volunteer service." – Presidential Service Award Web site
Log in your hours and be recognized for your service.
How do you do this?
To earn an award, individuals, families, and groups must keep a record of volunteer activities served. Activities may be kept by the Certifying Organization (UTPA) or can be tracked online with the USA Freedom Corps Record of Service. For more information, visit award information.
Award recipients receive:
- An official President’s Volunteer Service Award lapel pin
- A personalized certificate of achievement
- A congratulatory letter from the President of the United States
- A letter from the President’s Council on Service and Civic Participation
Please send your request via e-mail to Inquiries@PresidentialServiceAwards.gov or call 1-866-545-5307. You can also browse our web site to learn more about our program or you can contact Jeanette Broshears.
Individuals must submit their records of service to a “certifying organization” that will review and verify their records and order and distribute the award. Nonprofit, community and faith-based organizations, businesses, schools and colleges, membership and trade associations, and federal, state or local government agencies can all serve as certifying organizations.
To be recognized, service activities should meet national or community needs in the areas of youth achievement, parks and open spaces, healthy communities, and public safety and emergency response.
Activities should be unpaid and may not include court-ordered community service.
No. However, individuals must submit their records to “certifying organizations” that will review and verify their records and order and distribute the award.
A certifying organization is an organization that has been given the authority through an application process to administer the President’s Volunteer Service Awards to its volunteers. The University of Texas-Pan American is a recognized certifying organization.
There is no cost to register with the UT Service and Civic Participation. The UT System/UTPA is committed to paying the cost for the awards.
- Internet: Create your online account at http://www.PresidentialServiceAwards.gov.
You can track your hours on our web site or your certifying organization can keep track of your hours for you.
There is no deadline to submit service hours. Once a volunteer has tracked their hours for a 12-month period (UTPA is certifying years as April 1 to March 31) then the Certifying Organization can total the hours for the year and order the awards. The 12-month period does not have to be on a calendar year.
Does the President’s Volunteer Service Awards program offer scholarships, grants or application waivers?
There are no application waivers. However, if you are interested in scholarships or grants, contact the President’s Freedom Scholarship at:
Web site:http://www.cns.gov/Scholarships
E-mail:info@studentservicescholarship.org
Phone: 1-866-291-7700
Presidential Freedom Scholarships
1150 Connecticut Ave., N.W., Suite 1100
Washington, D.C. 20036
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- Make sure you are entering your password verbatim. (The password is case-sensitive)
- Enter your complete username as was sent to you.
If you are still unable to log on, contact us at 866-545-5307.
Do I qualify if — I am not a U.S. resident/My group is not headquartered in the U.S./My volunteer service wasn’t done in the U.S.?
Only U.S. citizens qualify for the award. If you are a U.S. citizen and are volunteering abroad, you may submit your hours to your certifying organization to earn the award.
