About the President's Volunteer Service Awards
The A&M-Texarkana Office of Student Life is an official certifying organization for The President’s Volunteer Service Award.
We have created guidelines for submitting PVSA service hours. Please see below for the form to submit service hours for verification. Hours can be verified in two ways: by uploading a Letter of Appreciation (LOA) from the organization at which you served, or providing the name and contact information for someone within the organization who can verify service hours. For questions please email cmcniel@tamut.edu.
Entering Service Hours for Current Students
Entering Service Hours for NON-Students
Additionally, the President’s Volunteer Service Award recipients are recognized during our annual Student Leadership Recognition Luncheon ceremony recognizing students and other participants committed to service and leadership within the TAMUT community.
Your recognition inspires others to take positive action to change the world!
Learn more by visiting the President's Volunteer Service Awards webpage.
President’s Volunteer Service Award FAQs
What are the award criteria?
Any individual, family or group that meets the program’s criteria can receive Presidential recognition for volunteer hours served over a 12-month period or over the course of a lifetime. Criteria for recognition are:
- Recipients must be United States citizens or lawfully admitted permanent residents of the United States.
- Awards are issued for service hours served within a 12-month time period or over the course of a lifetime.
- Awards are issued for volunteer service only. Additional levels of participation with the organization, i.e. charitable support, are not a factor considered for the award.
- Court-ordered community service does not qualify for the award.
- Awards are issued by approved Certifying Organizations. The TAMUT Office of Student Life is an approved Certifying Organization.
- Service must be with an organization that is legally established in the United States, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico or one of the territories.
- The Office of Student Life can verify volunteer hours for the previous year beginning on April 16 until April 15 of the current year. The Office of Student Life recognizes students during their annual Student Leadership Recognition Luncheon which takes place in May each year.
How many hours do I need to qualify for each award category?
| Age Group | Bronze | Silver | Gold | Lifetime Achievement Award |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kids (5–10 years old) | 26–49 hours | 50–74 hours | 75+ hours | 4,000+ hours |
| Teens (11–15) | 50–74 hours | 75–99 hours | 100+ hours | 4,000+ hours |
| Young Adults (16–25) | 100–174 hours | 175–249 hours | 250+ hours | 4,000+ hours |
| Adults (26+) | 100–249 hours | 250–499 hours | 500+ hours | 4,000+ hours |
*Families and Group: Two or more people, with each member contributing at least 25 hours toward the total.
May I apply service hours that I completed as part of an AmeriCorps program or received a stipend?
- Volunteer hours must be non-paid hours.* (If volunteer is being paid a stipend hours served are not eligible.)
- *AmeriCorps participants are allowed to apply the hours served during their stipend year towards the lifetime achievement award following your active year.
How does TAMUT verify my hours?
- For current students, TAMUT will verify hours in your EagleSync Profile by clicking "Apply for Opportunity". You will be able to see how many hours your have completed at any time. Instructions on how to do this can be found here.
- Non-students can complete the Presidential Service Awards Hours Entry form for Non-Students.
- The PVSA website no longer allows an individual to make an account to log their own hours.
- You will have 12 months from the date of your first entry to complete your hours.
- For example, if your first hours are logged on April 16, 2023 you have until April 15, 2024 to submit hours for your particular recognition, i.e. Gold, Silver, or Bronze Award.
Can I receive an award every year?
- Yes, an individual may receive an award every year but must follow all the requirements as described above including submission of documentation.
- You may also consider receiving the Lifetime award which requires 4,000 hours to be contributed towards the award.
Do I have to be a TAMUT student to apply?
- No, anyone can apply for the PVSA. TAMUT students have their service hours certified by the Office of Student Life.
- If you are not a TAMUT student, hours can be certified by us if your service was done locally (within Bowie county.)
- Non-students can complete the Presidential Service Awards Hours Entry form for Non-Students if you want TAMUT to help track your hours.
- If you are not a TAMUT student and hours were not done locally, you will need to find a local organization that can certify your hours.