Greenhill community service requirements have changed for Upper School students for the 2025-26 school year.
To foster an understanding of community needs, promote active citizenship, and inspire a lasting impact on society, students are now required to complete a minimum of 42 hours of service throughout their four years of Upper School according to the 2025-26 All School Handbook.
The service requirement is divided into two parts: 18 hours during freshman and sophomore year, and 24 hours during junior and senior year.
As in past years, the minimum of 18 hours during the first two years can come from virtual, in-person or in-school opportunities.
However, the service requirement for upperclassmen works slightly different since a service project initiative was introduced in the 2024-25 school year. Of the 24 hours of community service required, at least 12 of them should be committed to one’s chosen service project.
“This project is designed to align your passions [and] gifts with a specific need of your chosen area of focus,” Director of Service Learning and Community Jessica Chu said. “It is an opportunity to make a lasting impact.”
While all volunteer hours may count toward the 18-hour requirement during the first two years, in-school volunteer hours do not count toward the graduation requirement for upperclassmen. However, they can count toward the Greenhill School President’s Volunteer Service Award.
In past years, students could earn the President’s Volunteer Service Award, a national honor recognizing community service, by completing a set number of service hours. However, AmeriCorps, which oversees the award, has decided to put the program on temporary pause according to Chu.
The Greenhill School 2025-2026 President’s Volunteer Service Award is instituted until the award returns.
“When we got the email [from AmeriCorps], we decided to put something in place for students to be recognized for their community service.” Chu said.
According to the handbook, Greenhill, in their role as a certifying organization, will be notified when operations resume and will participate if the award resumes.
“In an ideal world, they are [volunteering] because they actually honestly love service,” Chu said.
