Et cetera : NCCC Spotlight: Jesse Barden

NCCC team leader Jesse Barden

AmeriCorps NCCC Corps Member Spotlight

Name: Jesse Barden

Hometown: West Columbia, SC

NCCC Team: Oak 2

     Jesse graduated from Riverdale High School in 2006 then attended University of Tennessee where he received a Bachelors degree in History.

     He considers himself to have a strong work ethic, a good attitude.  

     Something special about Jesse is over the past four years (2006-2010) he has been a member of the University of Tennessee men's Ultimate Frisbee team. During the time he has been a part of that team's rise from a small, under-performing organization to a large, well-organized team that has become a national contender. It has been a very rewarding experience for him by being able to form a bond with teammates, mentor young athletes, and work together to attain a common goal.

     After graduating high school, Jesse was a co-kitchen manager in a pizza restaurant. He found out about NCCC through from a friend who participated in the program.      When asked why he chose to do a term of national service, Jesse said, “In order to help figure out a career path.”

     After finishing this year with NCCC, Jesse wants to begin a career, whether that means searching for a job or going back to school.

     Jesse and Oak 2 are conducting prescribed burns with the Souris River Basin Complex managed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, while burning is the biggest task the team is tackling, they are also putting up fencing, performing chainsaw work and presenting to science classes in the local community about fire. In addition to these tasks, when the weather is not conducive to burning the team is assisting in restoration from tornado damage that occurred in the community of Kenmare.