College Corps Conference at USD Highlights Student Service and Statewide Collaboration

The University of San Diego welcomed campuses from across California this week for a two-day #CaliforniansForAll College Corps conference, designed to foster collaboration, share resources and reenergize efforts heading into a new program year.

#CaliforniansForAll College Corps, is a statewide initiative launched in 2020 through the Governor’s Office heading into its fourth year, that enables students to earn up to $10,000 while engaging in 450 hours of service work in their communities. Projects focus on environmental stewardship, food insecurity, K–12 education and community health, which are issues at the heart of California’s most pressing challenges.

“It's an opportunity for folks to connect, to share resources, to rejuvenate for Cohort Four of College Corps,” shared Christina Gonzalez-Salgado, community development director for Cal State LA/California Volunteers. “At the end of the day, we realize that we're all moving towards the same way of continuing to impact communities, impact students and impact our world.”

Since its inception, the College Corps program has grown substantially. In just three years, the initiative expanded from 100 students to 131 in its current cohort at USD alone. By the end of this program year, more than 400 students will have participated, completing more than 180,000 hours of community service in San Diego and providing more than $4 million in financial assistance to USD students. 

USD was celebrated throughout the two-day conference for its stewardship in the initiative.

“USD is leading the way. USD is showing our campuses, across the state, what it means to really live out our mission, our values, and our goals. And not just saying those things, but really walking alongside and nurturing our students, our community partners,” said Vinny Seepaul, program director of USD’s College Corps. 

This commitment goes beyond campus and reflects an investment in improving the broader community.

“We're showing what it means to be an anchor institution, that is grounded in democratic and reciprocal partnerships and showing up in ways that we've never seen before,” shared Seepaul.