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West Virginia University’s Energy Express has been awarded a competitive, three-year AmeriCorps grant to ensure continued support for children, families and communities across West Virginia.
Energy Express, a program in the Division for Land-Grant Engagement that operates through the Center for Community Engagement in partnership with WVU Extension, is a free, six-week summer program focused on improving literacy and nutrition for low-income and rural children entering first through sixth grades.
Through 2029, Energy Express will support 180 AmeriCorps members each year, nearly triple the current member count of 66. With more members, Energy Express Director Melissa Calabrese said they will be able to reach more communities with new sites around West Virginia.
“This allows us to reach, train and work alongside more AmeriCorps members, many of which will act as mentors that directly serve youth,” Calabrese said. “When we have more sites, that means we can serve more youth in West Virginia.”
One of those mentors is AmeriCorps member and Energy Express mentor Haleigh Muncy, who has been with the program for three years. As someone who grew up in the Energy Express program, Muncy personally understands the importance of youth expressing themselves through art and reading activities.
“Growing up in a rural area, it can be very difficult for children of any circumstance to find stimulation and continue learning throughout the summer months. It’s exactly why I always loved Energy Express as a kid,” Muncy said.
Today, Muncy works with children from every background to provide an engaging and safe learning environment and build confidence and creativity in tomorrow’s leaders.
“Energy Express isn’t just for a student that might be struggling in school, it’s a benefit to any student participating. It gives students a mentor they can look up to and allows children to step outside of their comfort zone to learn more about themselves,” Muncy said.
Over the course of their 300 service hours, members will gain valuable professional experience by directly serving youth as leaders and mentors. Members are also eligible to receive a $1,565.08 educational award and a $4,050 living allowance.
“We know that our AmeriCorps members go on to do great things,” Calabrese said. “Many of them might remain in their communities as teachers, principals and superintendents, or go on to give back to West Virginia in other ways as nurses, nonprofit leaders, business leaders or engineers.”
For every day youth spend in Energy Express, they improve their academic and social skills and meet 58% of their daily nutritional needs. In 2025 alone, Energy Express served 39,668 meals and distributed 10,992 take-home books to 1,011 children, numbers that will continue to grow over the coming years.
AmeriCorps is a national service program that addresses critical community needs in education, economic opportunity, disaster response, environmental stewardship, health and support for veterans and military families.
Energy Express is funded in part by an AmeriCorps grant through Volunteer West Virginia — the state’s Commission for National and Community Service, which promotes service and volunteerism throughout the state.
