The Providence High School PTSO is a Certifying Organization for the President’s Volunteer Service Award. The PTSO offers current students the opportunity to earn this award each year. PHS PTSO’s certification year runs March 14th through March 13th.
The PVSA recognizes United States citizens and lawfully admitted permanent residents of the United States who have achieved the required number of hours of services over a 12-month time period. Recipients earning this distinction receive a PVSA pin, a certificate of achievement signed by the President and a congratulatory letter from the President. Awards may be showcased on college applications.
There are three levels based on the volunteer’s age and the number of hours earned during a one year period beginning March 14th and ending March 13th of the following year.
The PVSA recognizes United States citizens and lawfully admitted permanent residents of the United States who have achieved the required number of hours of services over a 12-month time period. Recipients earning this distinction receive a PVSA pin, a certificate of achievement signed by the President and a congratulatory letter from the President. Awards may be showcased on college applications.
There are three levels based on the volunteer’s age and the number of hours earned during a one year period beginning March 14th and ending March 13th of the following year.
Hours by Award |
Bronze |
Silver |
Gold |
Teens (11-15 years old)* |
50-74 hours |
75-99 hours |
100+ hours |
Young Adults (16-25 years old) |
100-174 hours |
175-249 hours |
250+ hours |
*Age category is determined by the age a volunteer is for at least 7 months out of a designated 12-month award period.
Time Frame: March 14, 2023 - March 13, 2024
For Questions about the PTSO criteria: contact Meridith or Helen at [email protected]
For more details about the PVSA go to: http://www.presidentialserviceawards.gov
For more details about the PVSA go to: http://www.presidentialserviceawards.gov
How to Get Started: Obtain an application form and service hour log from the Counseling Department or download/print both from the link at the end of this article. Maintain the service log according to the rules listed below and turn it into the Counseling Department by Friday, March 15, 2024 at 3:00 pm.
PVSA Application Form 2023-2024
PVSA Log Sheet 2023-2024
Where can I volunteer?
PVSA Application Form 2023-2024
PVSA Log Sheet 2023-2024
Where can I volunteer?
Service Hour Rules and Information
- Log and cover sheet must be turned into Ms. Haywood in the Counseling Office no later than Friday, March 15, 2024 at 3:00 pm. You are welcome to turn in your log, summary and application beginning on February 15, 2024. LATE SUBMISSIONS WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED FOR ANY REASON.
- Be certain your activity qualifies! Volunteering is the practice of people working on behalf of others or a particular cause without compensation for their time and services. Ultimately it is up to the certifying organization to determine which activities qualify for the PVSA. At Providence High School, the PTSO is the certifying organization and will determine which types of activities may count towards this award. Volunteering is generally considered an altruistic activity, intended to promote good or improve human quality of life. Please see the “PVSA What Counts” chart in the Weebly for examples of the types of activities that qualify or do not qualify.
- *Age category is determined by the age a volunteer is for at least 7 months out of a designated 12-month award period. Please make sure to elect the age category on page 1 of this application packet.
- List each day with activity performed and time spent on a separate line on the log sheet. For each re-occurring activity, such as a week-long activity like Vacation Bible School, you must list all dates and hours per date separately. If supervisor is the same for multiple dates, one signature with arrows drawn vertically through the signature column is acceptable.
- If you don't have your log sheet when you conduct your volunteer service (therefore not able to get an adult supervisor signature) you may do the following: Obtain the supervisors email address. Email them shortly after you volunteer asking them to confirm your volunteer hours/participation, When they respond, their confirmation email can be printed and attached to your log sheet in place of their signature.
- Maximum time allowed per day for any volunteer activity is 9 hours. Time spent sleeping, eating, socializing, etc. does not qualify. Travel time counts within the maximum of 9 hours allowed per day.
- Log must be approved and signed by an adult supervisor of sponsoring institution, who is not enrolled in high school. No parent or family member signatures will be accepted! Contact information for supervising adult must be current and legible for verification of hours. Incomplete Applications, Summary Page and Logs will automatically render the applicant ineligible to receive an award.
- For an application to be considered complete, you will need to include the front application page, summary log and the volunteer hour log sheet (as many as are needed).
Examples of “WHAT COUNTS” towards the PHS PVSA
Counts |
Does NOT Count |
Volunteering to play an instrument/sing at nursing home. Time spent at nursing home with residents performing and visiting – counts. |
Practice time to prepare to volunteer and perform at the nursing home does NOT COUNT towards PVSA hours. |
Volunteering as a peer mentor or as supervised or directed by teacher at Providence HS*. There can be NO incentive provided monetarily or with grades/extra credit as this is considered “payment.” *May NOT be performed during a student’s class time (PE, math, etc.). |
Helping a friend or classmate with homework or to study for a test. |
Participating in 5K as long as it is for fundraising event either as a runner/walker OR as a volunteer to help out at the event. Please use integrity when reporting time spent participating as a runner/walker in a fundraising 5K. |
Participating in a 5K that is not a fundraiser (for example “The Color Run”). |
Time spent raising money for a cause (lemonade stand, etc.) also counts towards volunteer hours accrued. |
Donating money to a cause. |
Volunteering with youth groups for community projects (Habitat for Humanity, Operation Sandwich, Room in the Inn, etc.) or participating in service activities through a school club. |
Being part of a leadership club, student council at school or as a member of youth group/religious school. Meetings do not count. |
Volunteer work with church, temple, synagogue Volunteering with children in Vacation Bible School or tutoring children in Hebrew may count as volunteer work. |
Volunteer work with a religious organization may count so long as students do not proselytize (to try to persuade people to join a religion, cause, or group). Volunteering for your church, temple, synagogue when it involves participation in religious rituals does NOT count (for example: serving as an altar server, preparing or giving sermons, assisting clergy with religious rituals or services, lighting candles in synagogue, singing/dancing/performing during a religious service, etc. does not count) Giving up your room/bed to host a missionary or other public sector worker does not count. |
Babysitting in a faith-based nursery, daycare, women or men’s shelter, or community center counts. |
Babysitting for friends or family, or for any compensation. Participating in a training program, learning to be a camp counselor or youth leader (CIT, LIT) |
Volunteering with language club, or other school sponsored clubs - in the community - may count towards the PVSA. |
Hosting a foreign exchange student is a wonderful thing to do, but does not count as volunteer work. |
Preparing and delivering food or other necessities to others in need as part of a volunteer position with a community based organization counts. |
Helping a friend, family member, or neighbor in crisis is a wonderful thing to do, and often is the right thing to do; however, this help does not qualify as “volunteer work” in the community. |