AmeriCorps Alumni Feature: Marquina Hofschneider '16-17 and Maggie Abney '13-15

Marquina Hofschneider
College Access Corps Leader 2017-18

"My journey as a professional began at Campus Compact of Oregon as the College Access Corps Team Leader. In my service I grew to learn more about my passion for justice and how to apply concepts of equity in any workplace. While I was honored to prepare and lead trainings for the College Access Corps members that I worked with (as well as the other general Campus Compact members), the most impactful part of my service were the relationships I made through it. Often times the Campus Compact office (and training spaces) were places of healing through solidarity, learning through intentionality, and making progress through collaboration. Before my service ended, I was sad to think about never having a work space like that again, but I have learned that a part of Campus Compact has stayed with me since then.

Now I work two jobs (because capitalism and student loans) - one as an Administrative Assistant in the Special Education Department at a Corvallis middle school, and the other as a Sales Professional at Fred Meyer Jewelers (because shiny things) as I try to figure out what the rest of my life and equity journey will look like. I am leaning towards a career in school or clinical counseling and intend to apply to a program at OSU (Go Beavs!). 

Recently I've been organizing a drive for my island home of Tinian, in the Mariana Islands, since it was hit by Super Typhoon Yutu just last week. The island has intermittent cellular service, water, and utilities was wiped out. My father believes the island would have full power up and running within 8 to 12 months! I am in the process of getting shipments of supplies to the island and funds raised in collaboration with Team Koka, an on-island charitable organization. If you would like to contribute please do so here or Venmo (team-koka)! For more information feel free to contact me at marquinahofschneider@gmail.com!

Si yu'us ma'ase
-Marquina"

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Photo credit: Nancy Abney

Maggie Abney
VISTA at Southern Oregon University 2013-14 and University of Oregon 2014-15

"I served two terms as an AmeriCorps VISTA - first at Southern Oregon University, then at the University of Oregon.  I spent a few more years in Eugene after my service wrapped up, working for a telecommunications provider and a labor union.  In May 2017, I accepted the AmeriCorps Program Manager position at Utah Campus Compact in Salt Lake City, Utah.  In July 2018, we consolidated programs in our office and rebranded ourselves as the Utah Higher Education AmeriCorps Network (UHEAN).  At the same time, I moved into the director role.

My job is huge! We enroll 850 part-time AmeriCorps members, who are spread out at seven colleges and universities up and down the I-15 corridor. Nearly all of our members are full-time college students who combine their service with their academic major.

An unsung benefit of VISTA service is that members learn how to quickly develop relationships at their service site and with community partners.  UHEAN places members at 150 sites around the state, many of which have joined our program within the past two years.  It's my job to on-board them and set them up for success.  Having served at two universities, I also learned how to navigate higher education bureaucracies, a skill that comes in handy when managing such a large program.

Outside of work, I have maintained my commitment to serving my community.  I mentor high school students in a writing program, serve on a city committee that seeks to increase educational attainment for its residents, and provide support for a service scholarship competition."

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