Bay Area students are navigating a new volunteer recognition award program launched by a Palo Alto nonprofit organization after the sudden pause of a federal program last year.

Youth Community Service introduced the Youth Community Service Award in early 2026 in response to the May 2025 pause of the President’s Volunteer Service Award.

The new YCS Award is open to students in Santa Clara and San Mateo counties.

It requires the completion of 50 volunteer hours for elementary students, 75 for middle schoolers and 100 for high schoolers. Americorps has not yet provided a timeline for the reinstatement of the PVSA program.

Palo Alto High School Junior Ean Hsiung volunteers for the Palo Alto Speech and Debate team as a summer camp counselor and a camera operator for his church. He said that he felt upset when the PVSA was paused.

“This was honestly an award that a lot of people were working towards, including myself, and it was something to reflect how much we had helped people, and also something to show to colleges,” Hsiung said. “Everyone’s just chasing little bits that they can add to their [college] application.”

For Hsiung, the YCS award was a new way for him to receive recognition for his hard work.

“I felt pretty good when the YCS award was announced, not just only to be able to get recognition for it [volunteer work], but to be able to feel appreciation when service is done,” Hsiung said.