Volunteer Requirements
Students are required to complete volunteer hours in the community to qualify for the Hormel Foundation Austin Assurance Scholarship. Students must enter their volunteer hours on the “Get Connected” platform from Mower County United Way. https://uwmower.galaxydigital.com/
Students can find volunteer opportunities on the Get Connected Platform (automatically approved in the system) or enter their own opportunities (manually approved).
How many hours do Students Need to Complete?
Students must complete 50 volunteer hours.
Students can start completing volunteer hours as soon as they complete 8th Grade.
To be included in the AHS/Pacelli Awards Night students must meet the academic criteria and volunteer hours must be approved before April 25th of a student’s senior year. *Students may be eligible for THFAAS after this date but they will not receive a certificate or be recognized at the Awards Night ceremony unless completed by this date.
Volunteer Hours must be completed and approved by August 1st (the summer after graduating high school).
Volunteer Hours completed after August 1st must go through the appeal process. Appeals approvals are not guaranteed and should be submitted before the start of the semester students are seeking scholarship payment.
The required number of volunteer hours is adjusted based on the number of years a student is enrolled at AHS or Pacelli. (This also affects their scholarship eligibility.)
Attended 4 years – 50 hours required (100% scholarship eligibility)
Attended 3 years – 37.5 hours required (75% scholarship eligibility)
Attended 2 years – 25 hours required (50% scholarship eligibility)
Attended 1 year – 12.5 hours required (25% scholarship eligibility)
What is Volunteer Work?
Volunteer work is an unpaid activity that benefits or is a service to the community, specifically working with non-profits. Providing a service to an individual who may need assistance due to physical ailments, handicaps, age, or illness may also be approved.
What is a non-profit organization?
A non-profit organization is a legal entity organized and operated for a collective, public or social benefit, in contrary with an entity that operates as a business aiming to generate a profit for its owners.
What is Not Approvable
Babysitting (providing childcare for non-profit organizations events/activities are acceptable)
Pet sitting or House sitting
Farm work
Helping your family/family members or family business (this is family responsibility, not volunteering.)
Volunteering at your place of employment instead of receiving payment
Volunteering in a for-profit business.
Performing a service at a for-profit business that is servicing a non-profit is acceptable. Example: Pizza Ranch bussing tables for a sports team/club would be approvable.
Helping with household duties; such as helping siblings with homework or doing chores
Pep Band/Marching Band/Choir – school activity
Court ordered volunteerism
What is Approvable
Anything found on Get Connected
The United Way Backpack Program
Austin Public Library
Religious or Political Service
Matchbox Theater
Community Events – food drive, clothing drives, soup kitchens, etc.
Nature Center
Hormel Historic Home
4H/Eagle Scout/Boy & Girl Scouts Service Activities
Volunteering at sports or school events
Cleaning parks, litter cleanup – must be overseen by an organization
Helping elderly non-family members
Fundraising for sports team
Translating/Interpreting for non-family members to receive services
Salvation Army bell ringing
Humane Society
Fundraising for charity