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Two Marshfield Clinic Community Corps Members Named AmeriCorps Members of the Year
October 7, 2026
Two Marshfield Clinic Community Corps AmeriCorps members were recognized for their outstanding service and impact at the 2026 Governor's Service Awards, held June 24 at Olbrich Botanical Gardens in Madison.
Callie Grones, serving with Friends of the Lake Superior Reserve, and Rebecca King, serving with United Way of Jefferson & North Walworth Counties, were both named 2026 AmeriCorps Members of the Year. They were two of just three AmeriCorps members statewide to receive the honor.
Hosted annually by Serve Wisconsin, the Governo's Service Awards recognizes outstanding volunteers, AmeriCorps members, AmeriCorps Senior volunteers, and national service organizations making a difference in communities throughout Wisconsin.
Through her service with Friends of the Lake Superior Reserve, Callie has supported environmental education, conservation, and community engagement efforts in the Lake Superior region. Her service has included public programs, educational events, habitat restoration, invasive species removal, shoreline cleanup efforts, and opportunities to connect community members with the natural environment.
Rebecca's service with United Way of Jefferson & North Walworth Counties has focused on expanding literacy opportunities for children and families. Through initiatives such as Reading Under the Lights, she has helped connect children with books, strengthen partnerships with schools and libraries, coordinate volunteers, and create welcoming opportunities for families to engage in reading together.
While their service has focused on very different community needs, both Callie and Rebecca demonstrate the impact AmeriCorps members can have when they bring their skills, creativity, and commitment to organizations serving their communities.
Having two Community Corps members recognized among Wisconsin's three 2026 AmeriCorps Members of the Year is an exciting recognition of both their individual accomplishments and the impact of national service throughout Wisconsin.
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Being Featured on PBS Into the Outdoors is all in a Day's Service for Callie Grones
November 8, 2025
As part of her service at Friends of the Lake Superior Reserve in Superior, Community Corps AmeriCorps member Callie Grones appeared on a recently released episode of PBS Into The Outdoors, Mapping the Mysteries: Great Lakes Careers, which focused on young people exploring careers focused around the natural world in the Great Lakes. During the episode, Callie and Lake Superior Reserve staff introduce a student named Terry to the world of the St. Louis River estuary, where the river empties into Lake Superior and creates a place filled with biodiversity.
"Getting to be a part of filming this show for PBS was a childhood dream come true for me,” reflected Callie. “I grew up watching many PBS kids shows, and actually getting in front of the camera was such an exciting experience.”
For one of their activities, Callie takes Terry to an island in the estuary known as Walleye Alley, which is one of their tree monitoring sites. Callie describes the impacts of the emerald ash borer, which is a small green beetle that can kill the black ash trees that are a major part of the local environment by boring into the trees and disrupting their ability to take in water. Callie then showed Terry how to measure some of the roughly 32,000 saplings from different species that had been planted as part of a three-year project, with these young trees planted because they serve the same function in the environment as the destroyed black ash trees.
“During my service, I have been trying to find ways to communicate the work of the Lake Superior Reserve to the community and why their work is so important,” explained Callie. “I felt like this was such a creative way to talk about some of the pressing concerns of the environment, provide some hope for the future of those forests, and hopefully inspire kids to find ways to make a difference in their communities, including plants and wildlife."
Awesome job on this project, Callie! We appreciate that you were thoughtful to be sure AmeriCorps branding was visible, including wearing your name tag. You can watch Callie’s episode here:
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Community Corps Member Rebecca King Organizes Reading Under the Lights Event
June 13, 2025
This August, Rebecca King is completing her second term with Community Corps, serving at the United Way of Jefferson & North Walworth Counties. As part of her service, Rebecca developed the idea of hosting a Reading Under the Lights event. Over the next several months she planned and successfully implemented the first ever literacy event of its kind under the guidance of her supervisor, Elizabeth Bols, Executive Director of United Way of Jefferson & North Walworth Counties, and with assistance from numerous volunteers, community partnerships, and sponsorships.
Reflecting on the difference Rebecca has made during her service, Elizabeth Bols described that “the most significant impact Rebecca has had on our program was leading the very first ‘Reading Under the Lights’ event. Their leadership brought together over 100 families, community leaders, and local libraries for a one-of-a-kind night that provided free books to children and promoted literacy in a fun, memorable way. This event not only supported our mission but also strengthened community connections and created a tradition we hope to carry forward.”
Below is the reflection by Rebecca King about the impact of the Reading Under the Lights event earlier this summer:
For the first time ever, our community came together for Reading Under the Lights, an event I had the honor of helping organize and bring to life. The goal was simple but powerful: to celebrate literacy in a fun, family-friendly way while making books more accessible to children across the county.
The evening exceeded every expectation. More than 100 families gathered under the stadium lights, where children were each able to take home five free books to build or grow their personal libraries. Fifteen community leaders volunteered their time to lead small reading circles, sharing stories and sparking excitement for reading. We were also joined by four local libraries, strengthening the message that reading is a shared community priority.
The highlight of the night was the sense of joy and togetherness, families reading side by side, children clutching their new books with pride, and leaders modeling the importance of literacy. The evening closed with a breathtaking one-of-a-kind drone show, creating an unforgettable memory for everyone in attendance.
The success of Reading Under the Lights demonstrated what can happen when a community unites around a common cause. It was more than just an event; it was the start of a new tradition to inspire a lifelong love of reading.
We can't wait to see how this event will grow under your leadership again next service term, Rebecca. Way to make impact on youth and families in Jefferson County!
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Two MCHS AmeriCorps Members Honored at Governor's Service Awards
May 15, 2025
The Governor's Service Awards honors outstanding Wisconsin volunteers, AmeriCorps members, AmeriCorps Seniors volunteers, and national service organizations that address serious social needs across Wisconsin. The 2025 ceremony recognized twelve individuals and one organization from throughout the state for their outstanding volunteerism and service and 33 AmeriCorps Seniors volunteers for reaching the milestone of twenty years of volunteer service in their communities. The awards were presented on May 15 at the Olbrich Botanical Gardens in Madison and were sponsored by Serve Wisconsin, the state commission for national and community service. Two of our very own MCHS AmeriCorps members were presented awards.
AmeriCorps Member of the Year
Julie Wilson – Marshfield Clinic Health System - Recovery Corps (Eau Claire)
Volunteer of the Year
Sage Spear – United Way of Jefferson & North Walworth Counties (Whitewater)
 
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