A Promise That Pays Forward
The Panola Promise allows eligible high school students residing in Panola County the opportunity to earn free tuition and fees for up to three years at Panola College upon graduation.
Volunteer Hours Completion Form - Due May 15
As part of the Panola Promise, students are required to complete 25 hours of community service each year during their sophomore, junior, and senior years once pledged to the Promise Program during high school to maintain eligibility.
TIMELINE TO EARN VOLUNTEER HOURS
- August 1 to May 15 during your sophomore year
- June 1 to May 15 during your junior year
- June 1 to May 15 during your senior year
*Volunteer hours must take place during the appropriate academic year. Students cannot use volunteer hours accrued during their freshman year or the summer after their freshman year. After enrolling in the program in the fall of their sophomore year, students can count their summer volunteer hours for the next year.
Why is volunteer service important?
- Opportunity to become active members of their community
- Enables students to acquire life skills and knowledge
- Provide a service to those who need it most
- Increases social awareness and responsibility
- Helps students enhance their personal knowledge
- Grow from new experiences
- Develop better interpersonal communication skills
- Has a lasting, positive impact on society at large
Some examples of Volunteer Service:
- Helping at a nursing home
- Volunteering at a food pantry
- Assisting a civic organization
- Tutoring
- Community clean-up
- Volunteering with a church group
- Assisting with community projects
How many hours of service am I supposed to complete?
- Twenty-five (25) service hours or more in your sophomore year of high school.
- Twenty-five (25) service hours or more in your junior year of high school.
- Twenty-five (25) service hours or more in your senior year of high school.
Submitting Volunteer Service Hours
- Submit the form by May 15 each year.
- Submit all service hours for Panola Promise on this electronic form.
- Submit a form only after ALL 25 hours of volunteer service projects are completed.
- All submissions should total 25 or more hours to meet the requirement.
Listing of Community Volunteer Opportunities
The following organizations have requested volunteers for their organization or event. These opportunities are not affiliated with Panola College but can count toward your Panola Promise volunteer service hours. Please note you are not limited to these opportunities.
*This form is updated as opportunities are submitted.
| Opportunity: | Carthage Main Street Program |
| Date & Time: | Various Time Slots Available |
| Location: | Carthage |
| Contact: | Cindy Deloney |
| Phone: | 903-693-0160 |
| Website: | carthagetexas.us/community/main_street |
| Opportunity: | East Texas Food Bank - Longview Resource Center |
| Date & Time: | Weekly Time Slots Available |
| Location: | 2900 Signal Drive, Longview, Texas |
| Contact: | Tabitha Johnson |
| Email: | tjohnson@easttexasfoodbank.org |
| Website: | etfbvolunteercenter.volunteerhub.com |
If these opportunities do not work with your schedule, you may contact your high school counselor's office in regard to opportunities they may know are available for you to complete your hours.
Additionally, this site provides online options for students looking to get volunteer service hours.
Community Organization Volunteer Opportunity Form
Are you a community or nonprofit organization in need of volunteers for a project or event you are hosting this semester? Promise Program students can be a great resource.
Rules for Volunteer Service Opportunities for Promise Program students:
- Scholars should not be used in place of student workers.
- Scholars may not receive any compensation for volunteer hours.
- Student volunteer verification forms must be completed by May 15 each year. Please keep this in mind when submitting the form.
Other important information:
- All submissions will be reviewed to ensure they meet the requirements.
- Completion of this form does not guarantee volunteers or that your opportunity will be posted. Students will reach out to you in regard to their willingness to participate.
- Submissions should be received at least two weeks or more prior to the event.
The Panola College Promise for Panola County is sponsored by the
Charles C. Matthews Foundation.