Et cetera : AmeriCorps NCCC Class 19 Team Leader Spotlight: Harper Holmes

By: Rebecca Bigler

Harper Holmes, from Hamilton, Ohio, is the Support Team Leader for the Maple and Spruce units in NCCC’s Class 19. She arrived in Vinton on January 3, 2013, to start her 11-month service term supporting a total of fourteen teams based out of the North Central Region.

“I chose to do my first year of service with NCCC because I was fresh out of high school and knew that with my variety of interests, there was no way I could hone in on one and focus in college,” Harper said. This year is her second year with AmeriCorps NCCC, having served in Class 15 at the campus in Perry Point, Md. “I adored my team leader during my Corps Member year.  I knew that I could offer incoming AmeriCorps members the same things he provided me.  I knew that this would be the best way to spend my year.”

Harper has many skills that she brings to the role of Support Team Leader. She is a seasoned service member, and is very knowledgeable about the different programs within AmeriCorps. She also loves to talk and is comfortable presenting to groups of people. Those will be handy skills to have as she communicates with the various teams in her units and guides them through life in the program.

Prior to joining NCCC, Harper had served three terms with AmeriCorps. One of them was her NCCC term, but she also served with Rebuilding Together New Orleans. She served for one AmeriCorps State and one AmeriCorps National term with that organization. Harper also graduated from Hamilton High School in 2008.

After finishing NCCC, she wants to use her education award to go to Paul Mitchell and become a certified hairstylist. Not only does she want to use that certification to support herself, but also to give back and continue her service. “I want to apply my love of service and hair and socializing and partner with organizations/shelters in different cities to provide free services to mothers and children in shelters.”

The Maple unit consists of seven NCCC traditional teams, which are currently deployed in the following places: Necedah, Wis.; Hazelton, Iowa; Omaha, Neb.; Des Moines, Iowa; Erskine, Minn.; Ely, Minn.; and Moline, Ill. The Spruce unit consists of seven NCCC FEMA Corps teams, which are currently deployed in Chicago; Denton, Texas; Portsmouth, N.H.; Washington, D.C.; Plains, Penn.; and Fort Worth, Texas.

Some fun facts about Harper:

Q: What was your first job? I served at a cafe when I was fifteen. I was a horrible waitress. It only lasted a couple of weeks.

Q: What is your favorite movie? The Blind Side, or anything with Sandra Bullock

Q: What will be your first words of advice for your team members? “Stay grounded. It’s going to get hard, but remember why you’re here to serve and think of the communities you’re assisting.”

Q: What is one place in the world that you really, really wish you could visit? I love Germany. I’d move there in a heartbeat. My mom speaks highly of Russia and my friend served in Moldova.

Q: What is your favorite candy? Kit Kat

Q: If you could come back as an animal which animal would it be and why? Eh. Maybe a frog.

Q: Are there any sayings your parents repeated over and over that you can still remember clearly? “Bit your tongue and breathe.”

Q: What do you like to do in your free time? At home I paint. I love fix-it projects/tool repair. Weatherization, building things.

Q: Could you give us one reason to join AmeriCorps NCCC? It’s life-changing. Serving with 10 peers who become family for life is something so incredibly unique that the struggles, hardships, lack of personal space, and filters is SO worth it.