New community service varsity letter opportunity available to students

Feb 5 2026

Osseo Area Schools is pleased to announce that all district high schools will begin offering a varsity letter for community service beginning this spring. This new opportunity was created by students to recognize and celebrate sustained, meaningful service to our schools and broader community. This community service varsity letter is designed to be accessible to all students, provide multiple pathways to serve, and honor the impact students make when they commit their time, skills, and leadership to causes they care about.

Details

Eligibility

Grades: 9–12
MSHSL Compliance: Students must adhere to Minnesota State High School League (MSHSL) rules
Academic Requirement: No GPA requirement

Service Hour Requirements

120 total verified service hours
At least 40 hours dedicated to one organization or cause
Service hours from three (3) or more different causes or organizations

Types of Service Recognized

School-based service hours (within the school or district)
National Honor Society (NHS) volunteer hours
Community-based service hours with nonprofit organizations or community groups

Reflection Project and Documentation

To ensure service hours represent meaningful engagement and learning, students must complete a Reflection Project after earning 120 verified service hours.

Reflection Project Criteria

The reflection project must include all of the following components:

Verification of 120 Service Hours
- Completed Community Service Verification Form
- Photo of the student volunteering with a service organization
- Primary volunteer site confirmation: Signature from a representative of the primary organization where at least 40 hours were completed
Reflection Submission
Students must submit a reflection using one (1) of the following approved formats:
- Video reflection
- Written reflection (minimum 250 words)
- Conversation with an adult about the service experience (documented and verified)
- Other format (pre-approved by the Activity Coordinator, such as a photo summary)

Reflection Prompts

All reflection formats must address the following prompts:

What did you learn through your community service experiences?
How did your community benefit from your service?
Primary Organization Reflection:
- Why did this experience benefit you personally?
- How could your experience or impact be improved in the future?

Students must also identify a mentor connected to their service experience to support reflection, accountability, and growth.

Verification Process

All service hours must be documented and approved using the Community Service Verification Form
- Verification must include dates, hours completed, and confirmation from the supervising organization or adult

Recognition

Students who meet all requirements will receive a Community Service Varsity Lettering Certificate. This recognition honors students who demonstrate commitment, service, and leadership while making a positive impact on their school and community.

Important forms and documents

Students should utilize this student checklist to ensure they have met all necessary requirements for the community service varsity letter.
Students should utilize this Google Form to track their service hours.