Aziza Khalil, of New Tripoli, is one of 186 men and women who pledged to perform 10 months of national service with the Southern Region's 20th Class of the National Civilian Community Corps, as a member of FEMA Corps.

As part of her service, Khalil spent 10 months serving with the Federal Emergency Management Agency in the administration of emergency management and long-term recovery activities.

"I was finishing my undergraduate and decided I wanted to spend the next year doing some type of service work and giving back to communities across the country, Khalil said. "My search led me to AmeriCorps and, after more research and careful consideration, I decided on FEMA Corps."

Khalil graduated on June 5 in a ceremony at Massenburg Memorial Athletic Center, Vicksburg, Miss.

She will earn an education award of $5,550, which can be used to continue her education or pay back qualified student loans.

"After FEMA Corps I will spend the summer as an assistant director at a leadership camp in Central Pennsylvania," Khalil said. "Then, in September, I will begin a second year of service with AmeriCorps, as a member of the Philadelphia National Health Corps."