Hugh Houghton of Bainbridge Island is one of 160 men and women who have pledged to perform 11 months of national service as part of the Southern Region’s 22nd Class of the National Civilian Community Corps.

Houghton will be a team leader in AmeriCorps’ NCCC Federal Emergency Management Agency Corps.

As part of his service, Houghton will spend 11 months leading a team of his peers while serving with FEMA in the administration of emergency management and long term recovery activities.

“I heard about AmeriCorps through a friend and coworker and after learning more, I came across AmeriCorps NCCC FEMA Corps,” Houghton said.

“I think it is important to give back to the community since they helped me grow and become the person I am today. It is even more important to help those in need,” he said.

Houghton will graduate in April 2016 with an education award of $5,775, which can be used to continue education or pay back qualified student loans.

The AmeriCorps National Civilian Community Corps and its FEMA Corps units engage up to 2,800 young Americans in a full-time, 10-month commitment to service each year.

AmeriCorps NCCC members address critical needs related to natural and other disasters, infrastructure improvement, environmental stewardship and conservation, and urban and rural development; FEMA Corps members are solely dedicated to disaster preparedness, mitigation, response and recovery work. The programs are administered by the Corporation for National and Community Service, a federal agency.