• Quail Valley Middle School is a certifying organization for the President's Volunteer Service Award (PVSA). This distinction is an honor and awards are issued annually in May. 

    The information on this page is for QVMS students ONLY. The only exception is former QVMS students who previously earned a PVSA award during their middle school years at QVMS. 

    In 2003, the President’s Council on Service and Civic Participation founded the President’s Volunteer Service Award to recognize the important role of volunteers in America’s strength and national identity. This award honors individuals whose service positively impacts communities in every corner of the nation and inspires those around them to take action, too. Earning a PVSA award is a huge achievement! To learn more about this honor, you may visit the official PVSA website, which is linked to the right. 

     

    OFFICIAL GUIDELINES

    1. Use the "QVMS PVSA Guidelines" (linked on the right) to help you make decisions about when, where, and how to earn volunteer hours. Be mindful of the limits and exceptions outlined in this document. Read it and refer to it often. 
    2. Also consult the official website of the President's Volunteer Service Award to verify that your service hours meet the requirements to be certified for PVSA recognition. A link to this website can be found to the right.

    NOTE: It is the participant's responsibility to know and adhere to the guidelines.

     

    REQUIRED FORMS (linked above on the right)

    1.  "QVMS PVSA Community Service Documentation Form" 
      • You must PRINT copies of this form and complete it every time you do community service. 
    2. "QVMS Official Dates & Hours Log"
      • If you are doing repeated service with the same project/organization, this log must be PRINTED and included along with the QVMS PVSA Community Service Documentation Form. Logs must include signatures for each date and time to receive full credit.
    3. "QVMS PVSA Cover Sheet" (create and add link to right)
      • This cover sheet is required. It is where you will total your volunteer hours and provide the necessary demographic information about yourself. 

     

    SUBMITTING YOUR PVSA VOLUNTEER HOURS

    IMPORTANT: If you have submitted PVSA hours to QVMS previously, please note that the submission requirements have changed starting in the 2025-26 school year.

    1. You must submit a 3-ring binder that is organized as follows.
      • develop and elaborate requirements

    Mr. Bernhart will review submitted hours after the April 17, 2026 deadline. Be sure you have carefully attended to the guidelines to ensure your hours will be recognized.  

    In May of each year, participants may earn a PVSA certificate based on the number of certified hours they have submitted. In order to be considered for certification, each participant must adhere to the PVSA guidelines and meet the submission requirements and deadline noted above. 

     

    PVSA Volunteer requirements: 

    1. Must be a United States citizen or lawful permanent resident of the United States (i.e., green card holder). 

    2. The minimum age is five years old. 

    3. Must complete eligible service within a 12-month period (for annual Bronze, Silver, and Gold Awards) and over a lifetime (for Lifetime Achievement Awards) 

    Eligible service is unpaid acts of volunteer service benefitting others with the following exceptions: 

    • Service through National service programs that provide a stipend (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) may count towards the Lifetime Achievement Award*, but not for the annual Bronze, Silver, and Gold Awards) 

    • Travel stipends, transit/parking passes, membership passes, expense reimbursements, and other nominal volunteer support do not impact service eligibility 

    Ineligible service includes 

    • Donating funds 

    • Political lobbying (Non-partisan voter registration is an eligible activity) 

    • Religious instruction 

    • Conducting worship service 

    • Proselytizing 

    • Volunteer service performed as part of court-ordered community service 

    • Serving only family members 

     

    Volunteer Opportunities For Middle Schoolers:

    As a certifying organization, we do not coordinate volunteer opportunities for students. However, here is a non-exhaustive list of local non-profit agencies that allow middle school students to volunteer with an adult. Inclusion on this list does not indicate an endorsement. It is the responsibility of the parent to ensure the volunteer opportunity they choose for their child is suitable. Feel free to share opportunities with our PVSA Coordinator should you learn of them. 

    Local Non-Profit Agencies that allow youth volunteers

    Local Volunteer Match Portal (search for family friendly options)