News : Gould siblings represent another first for Vinton AmeriCorps campus

Zack and Sarah Gould are the first siblings to serve together at AmeriCorps campus in Vinton.

Zack Gould, far left, and Sarah Gould, far right, work with Maple 5 and 6 team members at VSHS.

Zack and Sarah Gould made history as soon as they arrived in Vinton.

The Michigan siblings are the first siblings to enroll together in the AmeriCorps Vinton campus.

"Their mother and I are very proud of both Zack and Sarah for their participation in Americorps," said Rick Gould, their father. "Both of them have always been very compassionate and concerned about others, and have always gone that extra mile to help. The fact that they are both on the same team is truly great as it will allow them to double their extraordinary efforts to benefit others."

AmeriCorps program director Jody Burns said that while the Goulds are the first siblings to serve together at the Vinton campus, they are by no means the first to serve together in the history of the AmeriCorps program.

The decision on whether to have siblings serve on the same team is a decision left up to unit leaders, based on their discussions with the siblings, said Burns. Some siblings serve on the same team, and spend most of their AmeriCorps service together. Others served on different teams, which means that while they lived at a main campus together during training, they spent many weeks miles apart.

Rick Gould said his children did request being on the same team so they could both enjoy and reap the benefits of their activities.

"They did not know they would be on the same team until after they arrived. This is a once in a lifetime opportunity for them and they appreciate being given this opportunity. It will give them tremendous memories and stories for many years to come," he said.

Gould also expressed his appreciation to the Vinton community for welcoming his children and the rest of the AmeriCorps members to their new home.

"We were lucky enough to enjoy a Memorial weekend visit with them and they both could not stop talking about how great the Americorps program and people are," he said. "They both have expressed their sincere appreciation to the people of Vinton for the warm hospitality that they have shown to Sarah and Zack as well as to the other members."

For the Gould siblings, it will be easy to remember the dates of some of the milestones of their AmeriCorps service. Sarah's 21st birthday was May 5, the day the members arrived in Vinton. An AmeriCorps team member who was assisting with registration noticed that the day was Sarah's birthdays and initiated an impromptu chorus of "Happy Birthday."

Zack's 24th birthday is today, June 3, the day before he and Sarah and the other members of the new Maple Unit take the oath and officially are inducted into AmeriCorps.

Induction is at 10 a.m. Friday, June 4, in the auditorium at the Iowa Braille School. The Maple unit teams leave for their first six-week assignments Monday.

Gould speaks for every AmeriCorps parent when he says of he and his wife, Denise: "We are very proud of them for making this committment and we both believe they will be a valuable benefit to the Americorps program and the efforts that it makes."