AmeriCorps Closeout: The 2025-26 service year is nearing the finish line! All Relay AmeriCorps members are required to complete closeout steps by Wednesday, May 27 to successfully exit from the Relay AmeriCorps program and earn any eligible Segal Education Award. Please reference the email you received on May 6 for more information about all closeout steps (click here for overview). Pop into the submission tracker (click here) - checkboxes next to your name means we have your materials!  Please reach out to support@relay.edu if you have any questions about closeout items.

Official Exit Confirmation: Once you complete all closeout steps and your school has signed the AmeriCorps hours verification form, Relay AmeriCorps can officially exit you from the 2025-26 service term. Think of this as your AmeriCorps graduation! If you are eligible for the Segal AmeriCorps Education Award, look out for an official exit confirmation email from Relay AmeriCorps in June containing important information.

Using Your Education Award: If you were eligible to earn a Segal AmeriCorps Education Award, it will be available in your My AmeriCorps Portal in 1-3 business days. after the “AmeriCorps Exit Date” column in the closeout tracker — an award will not yet be available to you if no date is listed. Follow the steps in this Support Center article if you wish to release your award to Relay and/or submit a refund waiver agreement to be considered for a refund/reimbursement of your educational expenses covered. 

Additional Education Award Resources: 

• America’s Service Commissions hosted a comprehensive webinar last year providing comprehensive information about using your Education Award. Tune in here to learn more from experts on this topic!

• Segal Education Award Q&A Sheet. Browse this document for information about a variety of Education Award questions. 

AmeriCorps Enrollment Preview: Current AmeriCorps members planning to return to Relay for the 2026-27 school year will be required to complete a new AmeriCorps application for a second year of service. However, you will not have to complete new background checks since we can use the Truescreen and Fieldprint checks you completed last summer. Have a wonderful summer and stay tuned for enrollment communications in early September!

Alumni Resources: Calling all program completers!

• Be sure to log on to Relay Connect to know what’s going on around the Relay Nation and stay connected. 

• Service Year Alliance is committed to sharing relevant and helpful resources with a growing network of alums through their quarterly newsletter, The Alums Corner: The Scoop After Service. Be the first to receive the latest edition with news, resources, job opportunities, tips, and more by signing up here.

AmeriCorps Alumni Benefits: 

• Schools of National Service recognize that individuals who serve in AmeriCorps bring significant value to higher education. By partnering with AmeriCorps, these schools offer financial assistance opportunities to AmeriCorps alumni. This link is being updated, but soon you can search for schools that offer scholarships, application fee waivers, and other benefits for AmeriCorps alums. 

• Employers of National Service commit to actively considering and hiring individuals who have completed their term of national service through organizations like AmeriCorps, Peace Corps, and other service programs. This partnership supports alumni and allows employers to tap into a highly skilled and motivated workforce. Check back here soon for an updated search page with over 800 organizations in the network!

Preparing for Summer Success: Summertime is just around the corner, and we know these months are critical to advance student learning and prevent summer slide. Here are a few resources to support your planning for summer and beyond.

• Scholastic offers resources and curricula to advance student learning for all ages. You can support students and parents with summer reading resources here.  

• Reading Partners has teamed up with AT&T and the Achievery to build a robust set of free literacy resources to support grades K-4 learning. This includes individual lesson plans to supplement learning in the classroom and 50 companion videos for K-4 students to practice their literacy skills. Users can go to The Achievery’s website, answer a couple of questions to curate their content recommendations, then enter the partner code “READ” to go straight to content.

America 250: On July 4, 2026, our nation will commemorate and celebrate the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. America250 invites everyone to take part in this national commemoration — through local events, shared experiences, and opportunities to reflect on the country’s past and future. Check out how to get involved here!