(HARTFORD, CT) – Governor Ned Lamont and Connecticut Office of Higher Education Commissioner Timothy D. Larson today announced that the Connecticut Commission on Community Service, also known as Serve Connecticut, is establishing the Serve Connecticut Community Impact Award – a new youth service initiative to encourage service and volunteerism among high school-aged youth in Connecticut for the 2025-2026 school year.
The award will be presented in May 2026 to students who document at least 20 hours of service across four unique projects. To participate, students must register on the InnerView Youth Service Platform, which tracks service hours and compiles a digital service résumé that students can use for college, scholarships, and job applications.
“Performing acts of service and volunteerism builds important skills and experiences that last a lifetime,” said Governor Lamont. “Through the InnerView platform, high school students can showcase their impact, strengthen critical life skills, and gain recognition for their contributions. The Community Impact Award is an opportunity to celebrate those efforts, and I look forward to honoring the many students who will make a difference in their schools and communities next spring.”
To be eligible to earn the 2025-2026 Serve Connecticut Community Impact Award, students must complete a brief registration on the InnerView platform and then use the platform to document each service or volunteer activity in which they participate. Service activities can be formal or informal, from service associated with a school club or fraternal organization to volunteering in one’s neighborhood. Service activities may be chosen from opportunities available within the InnerView platform or from other sources and may pre-date their InnerView registration date, although service activities must have taken place after June 1, 2025.
Participating Connecticut high school-aged youth who log a minimum of 20 service hours on at least four unique service projects completed between June 1, 2025, and April 15, 2026, will be recognized in May 2026 with a Serve Connecticut Community Impact Award. As a bonus, the InnerView platform will track participants’ service hours and the number of service projects, compiling that information into a digital service resume that can be used for college, scholarship, and job applications. Information about how to register is available on Serve Connecticut’s website at servect.org/youth-service-get-involved.
“Our youth should be encouraged to take an active role in addressing the challenges facing their communities,” said Larson, who in his capacity as commissioner also serves as a Commission on Service board member. “When young people step forward to serve, they not only grow their own skills and confidence, but they also bring new ideas and energy to solving real problems. The Community Impact Award highlights these efforts and connects them to a broader movement of service across our state and the country, reminding students that their contributions truly matter.”
Larson added that high schools and club leaders can also use InnerView for free to recognize student volunteers and manage group service projects, while nonprofit organizations can post service opportunities directly to the platform for youth to join.
Questions about the Serve Connecticut 2025-2026 Community Impact Award can be directed to Kate Scheuritzel, Serve Connecticut’s director of programs, via email at Kate.Scheuritzel@ct.gov.
Serve Connecticut is a program of the Connecticut Office of Higher Education. It administers AmeriCorps grants on behalf of the state and promotes service and volunteerism.