Local Heart of Oregon Corps Member Nationally Recognized

Logan Nichol at a job site at Knott Landfill. Credit: Julianna LaFollette

recent graduate of Heart of Oregon Corps, Logan Nichol, was recognized by the National Association of Service and Conservation Corps on March 13 as one of six Corps Members of the Year. Nichols was chosen among more than 22,000 individuals.

The Corps Members of the Year award honors young members who exemplify leadership and the spirit of service, demonstrating personal growth and a sincere commitment to helping their community. According to HOC Executive Director Laura Handy, Nichol is the first local nominee to be selected since 2009.

Nichol went to Washington, D.C., for the annual conference and award ceremony and gave a speech alongside Oregon Sen. Jeff Merkley. “It was a pretty surreal experience,” he told the Source Weekly.

Nichol has served over 4,000 hours as a corps member, benefiting Central Oregon communities though wildland fuel reduction projects, removing invasive plant species and protecting vulnerable habitats, among others.

Nichol entered the corps during his senior year of high school while trying to figure out what he wanted to do after graduation and never looked back.

Heart of Oregon Corps operates work, learn and earn programs where young adults, ages 16 to 24, can engage in a community with peers while working on projects to help solve problems, like building affordable homes, preserving natural spaces and wildfire prevention.

“I just really want to stress Logan’s journey. He has served over 4,000 hours through his core service since 2020 to now, earned a ton of certifications, and now he’s been hired as a staff crew leader, so now he’s leading a crew of youth that are near peers,” Handy told the Source Weekly.

Nichol is excited to step into his new role in helping the next generation of corps members serve the community while getting hands-on experience in a variety of fields.

“It has been a part of my long list of duties to be able to help support youth and inspire them to go to greater heights,” Nichol told the Source Weekly.

Heart of Oregon Corps is in the process of building a regional youth workforce development campus in Redmond. The new site will help support youth receiving specialized training, completing school and transitioning to a career.

This article appears in The Source Weekly March 20, 2025.