Thanks to a new volunteering opportunity, seniors could have some additional hardware to wear at graduation.

Though still deciding an official name and mission statement, the Green Cord organization plans to provide students with the opportunity to give back to their community while gaining service hours.

Seniors who complete a minimum of 75 service hours will earn a green cord for graduation. Juniors can complete 60 hours for a service pin. For freshman and sophomores, the minimum number of hours is 50.

“It’s a community service project, students have to go out and advocate for themselves to earn community service hours,” assistant principal LaToya Easter said. “I don’t do any part of calling any sponsors or anything, they have to do it themselves. It empowers students to really take ownership in helping others.”

Dues are $10 and meetings will occur once a month. Forms can be picked up from Lynne Walker in the AP office. Hours must be completed by April 30, 2016.

“There’s not a bigger or valuable lesson you can learn than giving back to others, going out and serving people, seeing the struggles that other people have because sometimes we forget that if we live in our own world,” Easter said. “It’s an experience that’ll last you a lifetime and an experience that really shows you who you are and what you do for others is so important.”

“There’s not a bigger or valuable lesson you can learn than giving back to others, going out and serving people, seeing the struggles that other people have because sometimes we forget that if we live in our own world,”