Spend a year supporting the aging community and get hands-on experience with local organizations and innovate on how we prepare for the changing world.
We are looking for impressive talent who have a strong blend of leadership experience, respect for diversity, an openness to growth, a passion for social change, and a belief that aging is an important phase of life and should be treated with dignity and respect. Whether or not you enter a direct service field following your service year experience, you will leave with a greater understanding of the aging process and tools to be an aging advocate no matter what field you enter.
Service Tracks
Students from all educational disciplines are encouraged to apply and participate as Champions.
Part-Time
Year of Paid Service During
Junior or Senior Year of College
As a current student, you’ll have the opportunity to serve at a Champions of Aging Service Site for 15 hours per week for the entire academic year. You’ll be able to aid the service site with their aging related initiatives and will have the opportunity to develop yourself as a leader through two hours per week of Champions of Aging educational seminars and activities.
Full-Time
Year of Paid Service
After College Graduation
(eligible within 5 years of graduation)
As a full-time service year participant, you’ll spend 32 hours per week in service at a Champions of Aging Service Site. Additionally, you’ll commit eight hours per week to Champions of Aging professional, leadership, and educational development and advancement. Your year of service will equip you with valuable skills designed to set you apart as a critical thinker, problem solver, and leader. The service year runs from August to May.
CAPSTONE PROJECT
Your service year culminates with the completion of a capstone project. You are encouraged to take what you have experienced and learned and propose an idea or solution to an aging issue you observed or uncovered during your year of service. This can be produced in many ways, such as a reflection paper, piece of art or music, or research paper. In whatever format you choose to present the project, the goal is to clearly identify the issue and proposed solution.
To encourage thoughtful reflection in preparation of the capstone project, Champions are encouraged to keep a journal of questions and observations throughout their year of service. One of these notes may become the basis of your project!
WHERE CHAMPIONS SERVE
Champions of Aging’s first service location is Omaha, Nebraska, with plans to scale within the United States and globally. Service sites are focused on direct service (helping the aging population) or indirect service (building the capacity of an organization to provide direct service to the aging population).
WHY SERVE?
Service year opportunities help participants develop real world skills through paid, life changing experiences. You’ll walk away from the experience armed with a new understanding of aging, the feeling of having positively impacted your community, a stronger skill set, and acceptance into a network of service year alumni who are fellow aging advocates.
Application Process
The application process for Champions of Aging is as follows.
Apply online
Enter your personal info and academic history
Resume
Upload your resume. We want to see what you’ve been involved in. For us, it’s about quality over quantity.
Response
Submit a short response (no more than 300 words) to the question “Where do you find happiness?”
Interview
Following a review of your completed application package, an in-person or virtual interview will be scheduled with a member of the Champions of Aging team
Reference Checks
Submit names and contact info for two individuals who can speak to your involvement, accomplishments, and character
Selection
Find out if you’ve been selected as a Champion
