The 2025-2026 Campus Compact AmeriCorps VISTA service year has come to an end, and we are proud to share that our cohort of thirty-six VISTAs serving across 15 states made strides in their projects addressing the AmeriCorps VISTA Focus Areas of healthy futures, environmental stewardship, education, veterans and military families, and economic development.
Check out what some of our phenomenal VISTA volunteers accomplished this year!
Minerva Martinez-Costa, VISTA at George Mason University in Fairfax, VA
As a VISTA, Minerva supported service-learning initiatives through programs such as the Bonner Leadership Program, where 41 
Bonner students participated during the 2025–2026 academic year, including 7 graduating Bonners who completed the program. Bonner Leaders participate in community-based service experiences while developing leadership and professional skills.
Additionally, Minerva supported the execution of workshops and student engagement initiatives for GMU’s Office of Community Engagement & Civic Learning (CECiL). She helped establish the first year of CECiL’s RSO Service Coalition, which currently includes 7 member organizations. Through the coalition, $800 in funding was distributed this past SP26 to support civic engagement programming and collaborative service events, all while strengthening community partnerships.
Minerva says that much of the work in higher education involves creating support and opportunities that help students navigate college and succeed. Throughout the year, she learned to trust herself more and recognize that she has valuable ideas and perspectives to contribute.
Marcos Adame, VISTA at UTEP/Philosophic Systems Institute in El Paso, TX
Marcos focused on strengthening the systems, partnerships, outreach, and com
munity engagement efforts necessary for the center to grow sustainably in Segundo Barrio, a predominantly Spanish-speaking and underserved community in El Paso.
One of the most meaningful impacts of his service was building relationships with the Segundo Barrio community through creative, community-centered projects that encouraged collaboration, self-expression, and community involvement. Through PSI’s Alamito STREAM Learning Center, he also helped create more welcoming spaces for volunteers and families while supporting efforts to strengthen connections between Alamito and local organizations. While helping develop this new space, he contributed to efforts that engaged and served more than 200 individuals.
Marcos has learned that meaningful impact does not always come from big moments, but from showing up consistently and creating spaces where people feel welcomed and supported.
Stephen Salter, VISTA at Middlesex Community College in Bedford, MA
Stephen supported the development and implementation of the Fostering Student Success through Community Service program. The goal of the program was to increase student engagement, skill development, and retention by connecting students with meaningful, structured community service placements.
The program engaged 15 MCC students in semester-long community service placements, collectively contributing an estimated 450+ hours of service to local organizations. Students supported a range of activities, including youth programming, administrative support, outreach, and research across partner sites such as the Boys & Girls Club, Green Dragons, and Dwelling House of Hope.
Stephen shared that he has developed a deeper understanding of service as a tool for both community impact and student development. It became clear that meaningful service experiences can play a significant role in building students' confidence, professional skills, and a sense of purpose.
Emily Rademacher, VISTA at Penn State University in University Park, PA
Emily served with the Restorative Justice Initiative (RJI), supporting currently and 
formerly incarcerated individuals across Pennsylvania through education and civic engagement.
She has contributed to RJI's work, providing educational support and resources to over 200 individuals through capacity-building and the development of personalized resources for students. She also worked on a recent crowdfunding campaign to generate matching funds that raised $10,500 toward incarcerated students’ tuition.
Emily believes that with only a year of service, it is worth making the most of every opportunity, connection, and experience along the way!
Brianna Cooper, VISTA at the University of Texas at El Paso in El Paso, TX
Brianna serves as the Food Security Liaison for the Center of Community 
Engagement at UTEP. Over the last year, she has helped implement their Meal Pass program, providing over 1,400 meal passes to students. They had the huge success of obtaining a $3,000 grant from Swipe Out Hunger, as well as receiving over 9,000lbs of food in donations this year.
As the first Campus Compact AmeriCorps VISTA to serve at The University of Texas at El Paso, Brianna shared that it has been an honor and a privilege to serve students and to ensure that UTEP strives for a Hunger-Free campus. She is excited to share what she has learned with this incoming cohort as the incoming Community-Building VISTA Leader and hopes to maximize their experience, as her VISTA Leaders did for her.
As this service year comes to a close, we celebrate not only the accomplishments of our VISTAs but also the lasting impact they have made in communities across the country. Whether they are beginning graduate school, joining nonprofit organizations, serving a second or third AmeriCorps VISTA term, or stepping into VISTA Leader roles, we know they will continue to lead with purpose and a commitment to service. We are grateful for their dedication, proud of all they have accomplished, and excited to see the difference they will continue to make in the years ahead. Congratulations to the 2025–2026 Campus Compact AmeriCorps VISTA cohort!