During the annual GIVE Awards ceremony, Volunteer Mississippi presented the 2026 National Service “Make a Difference” GIVE Award to Andrea Krell, executive director of the Mississippi Center for Apprenticeships and Residency in Education (MCARE) at The University of Southern Mississippi, for her commitment to service learning. Krell’s award video is viewable on Facebook.
“Andrea’s work exemplifies the very best of service-focused education in Mississippi. By pairing teacher preparation with meaningful AmeriCorps service, she and The University of Southern Mississippi are helping future educators build the experience, confidence and community-centered mindset that great teaching demands,” said Suzanne Rutherford, executive director of Volunteer Mississippi. “Teacher residents are making a meaningful impact in schools today while building a stronger educator workforce for tomorrow. Volunteer Mississippi is proud to support programs like the Golden Eagle Teacher Residency program that strengthen students, schools and communities across our state.”
In partnership with the Mississippi Governor’s Office, the Volunteer Mississippi GIVE Awards celebrate the exemplary service of some of Mississippi’s most dedicated citizens and seek to inspire others to follow their example. The Make a Difference GIVE Award recognizes the exemplary achievements of AmeriCorps volunteers and programs that currently serve or have served in the last three years in the state of Mississippi. Awardees go above and beyond the scope of their service requirements and motivate others to serve while creating meaningful impact.
Within MCARE, Krell leads the Golden Eagle Teacher Residency program, which offers support to undergraduate and graduate students seeking to become licensed teachers through the Southern Miss School of Education. Both pathways combine online coursework with a year-long residency experience in local K-12 classrooms. Through partnership with AmeriCorps, teacher residents support students’ academic growth through their volunteer service, enriching both their lives and those they teach.
“MCARE supports long-term student teaching experiences for teacher candidates because we believe that is the best possible preparation to persist in the classroom environment,” said Krell. “Partnering with AmeriCorps has been an amazing way for our teacher candidates to grow their teaching skills while giving back to our schools and communities. It is an incredible honor to be recognized for this important work, and I am grateful for both our MCARE team and the staff at Volunteer Mississippi who make it possible.”
Established in 2025, MCARE is the state’s first Institutions of Higher Learning center for teacher apprenticeships and residency. Krell and her team at Southern Miss are committed to providing accessible pathways and career advancement in education to address the daunting teacher shortage Mississippi is experiencing.
“Andrea’s work through MCARE is helping transform how Mississippi develops and supports future educators,” said Dr. Trent Gould, dean of the Southern Miss College of Education and Human Sciences. “MCARE is pushing beyond traditional preparation models toward immersive clinical and experiential learning that prepares educators who are ready to lead classrooms on day one. Andrea’s commitment to service and teacher preparation is creating meaningful impact in schools and communities across our state. She is an exceptional leader who models the professionalism, compassion and servant leadership we hope to instill in every teacher apprentice and resident. This recognition is incredibly well-deserved.”
This year’s GIVE Award recipients were honored at an awards ceremony on April 23 at the Two Mississippi Museums in Jackson, Miss. Learn more about the awards program and MCARE at Southern Miss.