Danika Loomis and Curtis Ray will work in community service roles
May 29, 2026 / Two Gilchrist Junior/Senior High School seniors have been selected for a competitive AmeriCorps youth volunteer program that will place them in community-based service roles this summer, supporting youth programming and local nonprofit services.
Danika Loomis and Curtis Ray will spend the summer embedded in community organizations, gaining experience in service work while contributing to programs designed to support youth and families across the region.
Loomis will serve with the AmeriCorps youth program at La Pine Park and Recreation, where she will assist in running summer youth programs, working directly with youth while building hands-on experience. She plans to pursue a career as an EMT after high school and said the AmeriCorps experience closely aligns with her long-term goals.
“Being an EMT is not just a career, but a form of community service,” she said. “This opportunity will help me develop skills and experiences that connect directly to that vision.”
Ray will serve with AmeriCorps at La Pine Community Kitchen and the Gilchrist Food and Clothing Closet, where he will support community programs serving local families and youth.
Ray has been accepted into the automotive mechanics program at WyoTech and said he views the AmeriCorps position as a way to give back before beginning his technical training. “I’m passionate about pouring into the youth because they are the future of this town,” Ray said.
The AmeriCorps program runs from June 1 through Sept. 14. Volunteers commit to 450 hours of service, including 80 hours of training and testing to earn a Community Health Worker certification through the state of Oregon. Participants receive a monthly housing stipend during their service and a scholarship upon completion of the program.
For the rigorous selection process, the students were required to submit resumes and cover letters and participate in a formal interview with a selection panel before final placements were made.
