Robert Brown graduated from Temple last year with expectations of taking a year off before attending law school. Having served as community service chair for Temple’s Black Law Student Association during his undergraduate years, the opportunity to continue his service with City Year satisfied his desire to contribute in a meaningful way before continuing his education.

“I heard about City Year my senior year from a friend who was going down a similar path I wanted to go down — to take a year off and go to law school afterward,” said Brown, who received a bachelor’s degree in Political Science. “The program was intriguing because I could offer a year of service and get paid for it.”

It’s an opportunity many Temple graduates have pursued over the past several years. The university is fifth among the top feeder schools to the national non-profit, which enlists young people for a year of full-time service in high-need urban schools.

City Year works to reduce the more than 100 million U.S. students who drop out of high school by targeting those most at risk. Working with students in third through ninth grades, the program focuses on attendance, behavior and course performance. Corps members support young people through in-class tutoring, mentoring programs andneighborhood service projects designed to keep them in school and on track to succeed.

In 2012, 26 Temple graduates joined City Year’s corps. At least seven recent Temple graduates have committed to serving in the 2013-14 program, which begins in the fall.

“Committing to a year of national service is one way to make a statement about who you are and what is important to you,” said Peter R. Jones, senior vice provost for undergraduate studies at Temple. “It is also an opportunity to learn things about yourself, about others and about life in general that will likely help you in decisions you make as you continue your life and career path.”

Temple is the only Pennsylvania school included among City Year’s top ten feeder schools.