Silver Cord of Excellence

The purpose of the Center Point-Urbana Silver Cord Program is to instill within students the importance of community service, and encourage students to be accountable for investing in their own education and in their community on a regular basis during their school years. This program is designed to recognize students who have a heart for service in their community.

Silver Cord Award Pre-Approval Form (doc)

What is the Silver Cord Program?

The Silver Cord of Service Award is a distinguished volunteer service award available to all Center Point-Urbana High School students. The Silver Cord Program recognizes students for their community service during their high school years. To qualify for this award, students must complete a minimum of 40 hours of community service/volunteering during each year of high school, for a total of at least 160 hours on or before May 7^th of their senior year. Silver Cord of Service Award recipients will receive a special honor cord to wear during graduation as recognition of their outstanding achievement. This is a self-directed program. The student is responsible for turning in all of their hours.

How are Silver Cord participants recognized?

Graduating seniors meeting the requirements of the Silver Cord Service will be recognized at Senior Awards Night with a Silver Cord. Graduates will wear Silver Cords at Commencement and recognition will be noted in the commencement program. Silver Cord Service Commendation recognition at graduation is a celebration of approval and praise, an award for those who have achieved, and encouragement for future graduates.

How are hours documented?

Documentation forms can be found on the high school website or in the Student Services Center. Students should fill out and submit the approval form for each individual volunteer activity prior to volunteering. If an unexpected opportunity arises, please contact Mr. Libolt or Mrs. Osborn at your earliest convenience. Over the summer, please email your form to amyosborn@cpuschools.org and rlibolt@cpuschools.org before beginning your volunteering.Please allow 48-72 hours for approval. The approved form will then be returned to you. Once your volunteer activity is finished, complete page 2 of the form and return it to the Student Services Center where the hours will be recorded.

How can a student check their submitted hours to view their progress?

All students that have submitted hours can visit the Student Services Center or email Mrs. Osborn for updated hours.

What dates does the Silver Cord Program run?

The Silver Cord Program starts June 1 before freshman year and concludes April 30^th of senior year.  Seniors must have their forms turned in by May 7 to count towards graduation recognition.

What are Flex Months?

May and June are considered Flex Months. Each student may decide which school year they would like to attribute their volunteer hours towards, either the current school year or the upcoming school year. This must be indicated on your Approval Form.

Defining Acceptable/Non-Acceptable Service Activities

Acceptable Service Activities

Examples of acceptable services include but are not limited to: schools, local or state government agencies, church, parks, charity programs, community events, community organizations, senior living communities, nursing homes, and child care centers.

• Volunteer projects must be supervised by an adult who is employed by the service organization or is an established volunteer recognized by the organization. Family members and/or fellow students are not eligible to serve as the supervisor or verify volunteer hours.
• Each year 10 of the 40 volunteer hours can come from community service within your neighborhood. For example, helping a neighbor shovel, mow, rake leaves, etc. These must be approved prior.
• Each year 10 of the 40 volunteer hours can come from service provided in conjunction with a school-based organization, sport, or activity (for example: NHS, STORMTroopers, etc). These must be approved prior. Additional hours will be considered based on need of the project or situation.

Non-acceptable Service Activities

• Court-ordered Community Service
• Service provided directly to a for-profit institution or organization
• Service/time for which you are being financially reimbursed or compensated
• Travel time to and from the service site
• Sleeping or personal recreation time during service hours
• Hours completed during high school academic time. 
• Work Experience students receiving credit are not allowed to count this as Silver Cord service time
• Service hours or trainings used to satisfy a requirement/obligation for any agency, program or organization of which you are a member

Religious Service

In order to be applicable to a student’s Silver Cord of Service Award hours, an activity may NOT be directly involved with the rituals, services or ceremonies of any specific religious organization.

• Acceptable examples of religious activities include: teaching Sunday or Vacation Bible School, leading youth groups, babysitting during religious services and/or participating in mission trips.
• Non-acceptable examples of religious activities include: singing in the choir, candle lighting, reading from religious texts and/or altar service

List of Organizations

Here is a list of organizations that have accepted volunteers in the past. You are not limited to these. It’s just a list to help get you started: