What is Varsity Letter in Community Service?
Through the Varsity Letter in Community Service (VLCS) program, United Way of Olmsted County partners with high schools in Olmsted, Dodge, Winona, and Fillmore counties to recognize and reward students for their volunteer efforts in the community. High school students who volunteer 100 hours during the program year can earn the Varsity Letter in Community Service award. With 52 weeks in a year, that is equivalent to about 2 hours per week!
Applying for Varsity Letter in Community Service (VLCS)
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Review the current application packet à 2024-2025 Varsity Letter in Community Service Application
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Email Sonja if you're new to Varsity Letter in Community Service (VLCS) so she knows you're interested and can answer any questions you may have!
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Keep track of your volunteer hours throughout the year using a volunteer tracker like this one àVolunteer Hour Tracker that includes:
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Dates of Volunteer Service
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Name of Agency/Organization
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Name of Volunteer Supervisor
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Area of Impact (Financial Stability, Youth Opportunity, Healthy Communities, Community Resilience, Other)
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Description of Service Performed
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# of Hours Volunteer during each activity
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Verify your volunteer hours. Each time you volunteer, verify the experience by:
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Capturing a photograph or selfie during the volunteer experience
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Having the volunteer supervisor verify your volunteer experience by:
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signing a piece of organization letterhead,
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recording a video verification,
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or emailing Sonja directly from their organizational email
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*Scroll down for ideas about where to volunteer!
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Complete a Reflection Piece that includes the following:
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What you learned about yourself during your volunteer experience over the program year
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What you discovered about your community through the experience
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What you enjoyed most about the experience
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How you feel the experience has shaped you and your worldview
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Turn in your application to United Way of Olmsted County by the Application Deadline: March 1, 2025 using one of the following methods:
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VIA EMAIL: You may submit your application via email to sonjas@uwolmsted.org for Sonja, the Program Coordinator, to review.
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BY MAIL: You may mail or hand deliver your application to our office at: United Way of Olmsted County, 903 West Center Street, Suite 100, Rochester, MN 55902, Attn: Varsity Letter in Community Service.
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Application Materials
All supplemental materials including Requirements & Guidelines, FAQs, Checklists and Verification Forms are included in the original application form. Additional copies can be found below or by sending an email request to sonjas@uwolmsted.org
+ 2024-2025 Official Application 2024-2025 School Year Application VLCS
+ Volunteer Hours Tracker Excel VLCS Hours Tracker
+ Volunteer Resources VLCS Volunteer Resources
+ List of FAQs 2024-2025 VLCS FAQs
Important Dates 2024-2025
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Hours are for eligible volunteer work from March 1, 2024 - February 28, 2025.
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Application deadline is on or before March 1, 2025.
What to Expect After You Apply
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United Way of Olmsted County will notify you that we have received your application via email.
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United Way of Olmsted County will notify you in April with determination of whether you are receiving this award.
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Students who qualify for the Varsity Letter in Community Service award will receive a certificate, a community service patch, and a pin specifying a first, second, third or fourth year award recipient. These are currently free of charge.
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Participating high schools will offer students the school's varsity letter and any associated acknowledgements/awards.
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Interested in becoming a Student Mentor?
If you're interested in becoming a VLCS Volunteer Mentor, check out the links below for additional information and resources:
VLCS Volunteer Mentor Description
VLCS Volunteer Mentor Resource Guide
If you would like to join our efforts as a VLCS Volunteer Mentor, please reach out to Sonja. We'd love to arm you with some training and materials to help you get started!
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WHERE TO VOLUNTEER
United Way’s mission is to unite people and resources to improve people’s lives in our community. We fight for financial stability, youth opportunities, and healthy communities for every individual, and community resiliency in the places we serve, work and live. We encourage students to volunteer in those community impact areas. We also recognize that students are already involved in community service clubs and initiatives through their high schools. To encourage a balance in activities, students must perform at least one school-related activity and serve at least 40 hours of non-school related volunteering such as supporting a local nonprofit or civic service agency. We also ask that the majority (at least 60 hours) of students' volunteer service be performed locally in SE Minnesota.
United Way of Olmsted County is a community change organization that collaborates with partners, accelerates impact, and drives changes identified by community members. Because of this, we tackle the most pressing needs in our community, cultivate leaders to build a place where all people can thrive, and empower local residents to shape their future. Therefore UWOC encourages VLCS applicants to volunteer with organizations whom we currently support. Those can be found by following the links below.
United Way of Olmsted County website:
https://uwolmsted.org/meet-our-grantees
United Way of Dodge County website:
https://unitedwayofdodgecountymn.org/2022-impact-report/
The following opportunities are examples that qualify for Varsity Letter in Community Service. You may also use Get Connected, United Way of Olmsted’s online volunteer portal, to find local opportunities! Scroll down to learn how to use the Get Connected volunteer portal or use the link to get started.
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Type of Volunteerism |
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GENERAL examples
What general types of volunteer activities are accepted?
How can I help fight for education, health, and financial stability? |
- Tutor/mentor/assist a teacher - Teach a language, an art, or another educational activity - Share your musical talent - Local library volunteer - Participate in a community service club - Donate activity kits with books, games, etc. -Visit a children’s organization to read, dance, sing, color, puzzle, etc. -Volunteer at an event -Provide social media or IT support to a nonprofit org -Youth after-school programs |
- Offer companionship to someone in assisted living or become a pen pal - Play games, cards or puzzle at a nursing home facility - Pick up litter or support a local public works effort - Volunteer as a coach or at a local sporting event - Volunteer at a medical center - Volunteer with a local farmers market or community garden - Help a local volunteer firefighter department - Personal hygiene collection drive |
- Help at a food bank, food shelf, or with meal/s for a family in need - Support those with disabilities to live independently - Snow removal, yardwork, painting, moving/packing, home projects and/or other household chores for seniors or disabled individuals - Serve a community meal - Craft, crochet, sew, knit, or assemble essential items and/or collect materials to donate - Host or help with a collection drive/fundraising event or organize one! |
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SPECIFIC examples
What specific programs are available to volunteer with in Olmsted County?
What local programs support education, health, and financial stability? |
- Living Room Tutors (virtual) - YMCA: Camp Leadership or Camp Oxbow (zoo trips, archery, building camp fires, tie dye, crafts, etc.) -Community Service Clubs: Key Club, National Honors Society, FFA, 4-H, Girl/Boy Scouts, etc. - Stewartville Sportman’s Club - Sing, dance or perform at a local nursing home - MagiKids by Weirdcards: teach the game, start a club or organize a card drive - Brighter Tomorrows: activities with kids, talk-time with teens - Read to children at a United Way of Olmsted County event or the public library - History Center: outdoor work, admin tasks & special events IMAA's Match Program- connects refugees or immigrants to people in our communities to assist with integration and help them feel more socially connected. |
- Elder Network or Hiawatha Homes - RNeighbors annual: “A Litter Bit Better” - Adopt-A-Spot, (or a drain, stormwater pond, river, or highway) with your city Public Works - Participate in Volunteer Water Monitoring of Minnesota lakes & streams - Special Olympics MN coach or volunteer - Limb Lab’s annual golf tournament - Stewartville Volunteer Fire Department - EA Therapeutic Health: explore the medical field through volunteering with a class or skills bootcamp |
- Local food shelf or Channel One Regional Food Bank - Salvation Army: Resource room or food shelf attendant - Family Service Rochester’s “Neighbors Helping Neighbors” - Project Linus, Bundles of Love, or Olmsted Medical Center: Craft, cut, crochet, sew, knit, iron, assemble or deliver infant essentials and/or materials; organize a collection Habitat for Humanity: Volunteer at a Build Site or ReStore (retail) - Kiwanis, Exchange, or Lions Club fundraising events - In-Kind donation drive/s for Elder Network, The Landing, Family Promise, or Ronald McDonald House |
What if my volunteer activity doesn’t fit in the categories of health, education, or financial stability?
United Way of Olmsted County encourages volunteer opportunities in these specific areas of community impact. However, there are many local nonprofits within different areas. Example opportunities that would fall in the “Other” category include animal shelters, arts/humanities, business leagues, churches/religious organizations, and social/recreation clubs. Please indicate which impact area your activity fits into on the volunteer tracker.
If you are unsure whether a certain activity meets the volunteer requirements, please contact Sonja via email sonjas@uwolmsted.org or by phone (507) 535-5509 to verify before you start.
Get Connected
Learn how to use our Get Connected volunteer portal to view current needs in Olmsted County
Jump to straight to Get Connected
Congratulations to our past Varsity Letter in Community Service Recipients!
News Coverage of our 2023-2024 Varsity Letter in Community Service award ceremony
In 2020, our high school leaders participated on an interview panel via Instagram Live!
Stewartville HS Spring Pepfest VLCS Certificate Award Recognition 2021
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CONTACT US
United Way of Olmsted County
Sonja Sommerfeldt Impact Program Coordinator
sonjas@uwolmsted.org, 507-535-5509
United Way of Olmsted County
Attn: Varsity Letter in Community Service
903 West Center Street, Suite 100
Rochester, MN 55902
Stewartville High School
Joyce Stacy, United Way Volunteer and Former Educator
community.service@ssdtigers.org
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Interested in becoming a Student Mentor?
If you're interested in becoming a VLCS Volunteer Mentor, check out the links below for additional information and resources:
VLCS Volunteer Mentor Description
VLCS Volunteer Mentor Resource Guide
If you would like to join our efforts as a VLCS Volunteer Mentor, please reach out to Sonja. We'd love to arm you with some training and materials to help you get started!
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