Grant Writer/Fundraising Lead VA-USA-89 Veterans Affairs Department N/A Post, Section N/A, United States

The Student Leadership Council is a national youth leadership program. Our program focuses on creating young, servant leaders who serve our country’s Veterans. Our program is comprised of students, mentors, and interns/volunteer staff. Each of these entities plays a vital role in the operation of the SLC. Listed below is a more in-depth description of the entities that form the SLC.

Students: Each year we choose nationally the best students from around the country that are wise beyond their years to join our program based on their commitment to service and Veterans. Their outstanding academics, a nomination made by the VA facility they volunteer for, and other additional criteria are also determining factors in our selection process. Throughout the program, our student ambassadors complete assignments, individual projects, group projects, presentations, they attend meetings with guest speakers affiliated with Veterans, host meetings, events, and so much more. Some of the projects the student ambassadors have completed in the past include a suicide awareness forum, a Vietnam Veterans Welcome Home event, and many hunger & homeless initiatives. While progressing through the program, our student ambassadors serve our past and current heroes, all while growing into our future leaders.

Mentors: Mentors are selected through a screening process conducted by the SLC Human Resources team. Mentors work directly with the students to ensure their success and offer guidance. They meet with students on a regular basis throughout the program to address questions/concerns, offer guidance, and ensure the success of their mentees. Mentor responsibilities include

Interns/Volunteer Staff: The Student Leadership Council is a Veterans Affairs Voluntary Service (VAVS) program, the largest volunteer program in the Federal government. It is also a Virtual Student Federal Service (VSFS), meaning that it is 100% virtual. The SLC mainly utilizes google classroom and google workspace. In addition, several other communication platforms are utilized such as Microsoft teams, google meet, zoom, and more. Interns that volunteer with the SLC have the opportunity to gain real life experience working for a federal government organization, as well as real-life skills. The SLC consists of several different departments. These departments include Chief of Staff, Human Resources, Marketing, Communication, IT Security, Data Analytics, Curriculum, Finance, and more. Interns for each department are interviewed, selected, and onboarded by the SLC’s Human Resources team. This is an unpaid internship meaning work is 100% voluntary. Interns are expected to volunteer 10 hours a week, working behind the scenes of the SLC to ensure the program runs smoothly for the mentors and students. Interns are expected to attend weekly meetings, work on tasks with minimal supervision, communicate and collaborate with other interns in their departments, and more. Every intern must report to their department lead and the head director of the program on a regular basis. Human Resources, along with leadership of each department, will monitor each intern and hold periodic evaluations to ensure their success.