Aniya Dietzman, a current Corpsmember of Operation Fresh Start will be one of six recognized by The Corps Network, the National Association of Service and Conservation Corps, as a 2025 Corpsmember of the Year. Aniya will be honored at The Corps Network’s annual national conference, taking place in Arlington, VA, from March 11–13, 2025.
The Corps Network presents the Corpsmember of the Year Award on an annual basis to young adults chosen from among the more than 22,000 individuals who serve in member organizations of The Corps Network every year. The Corpsmembers of the Year are young people who, through their term of service in a Corps, have demonstrated personal growth, outstanding leadership skills, and a sincere commitment to helping their community. All winners of the Corpsmember of the Year Award are nominated by their Corps.
Corps engage young people in important neighborhood improvement, infrastructure development, and conservation projects. Corps help manage our lands and waters, make communities more resilient, implement energy efficient technologies, perform disaster response work, and more. The Corps Network’s Corpsmembers of the Year, like Aniya, set an example for young leaders nationwide, demonstrating the impact that a single individual can have.
Aniya is in her second term as an AmeriCorps member with Operation Fresh Start (OFS). She began her Corps journey in 2023 looking to complete her high school diploma. Over a year later, Aniya has taken advantage of every opportunity that has come her way and has uncovered a passion for wildlife conservation. As a result, Aniya plans to attend college in the fall of 2025. Her Corps experience has ignited an excitement for learning in a way she has never experienced in traditional school.
Before joining OFS, Aniya lacked direction and struggled with virtual learning during the COVID-19 pandemic. She wanted a hands-on learning style, and OFS provided the solution: earning her diploma while gaining practical skills and certifications.
"Aniya is a shining example of what can be achieved when a young person embraces meaningful service work within their community and commits wholeheartedly to their personal and professional growth," OFS Director of Legacy and Conservation Cory Rich said.
Aniya fully embraced every opportunity. She earned her diploma, driver’s permit, and a pre-apprenticeship in urban forestry. A pivotal moment was her internship with University of Wisconsin-Madison Russell Labs as a Research Assistant, sparked by her performance during an owl dissection training. As part of her internship, Aniya works weekly at the University of Wisconsin-Madison Zoology Museum, learning about scientific museum operations. She has also dissected animals such as bats, opossums, and snow leopards for research.
Aniya plans to use her AmeriCorps Education Award to become a veterinary technician and explore culinary arts. Currently, she continues as a research assistant, extending her internship into spring 2025, and was offered a full-time summer position.
"Throughout her time with Operation Fresh Start, Aniya has not only transformed her future, but has also made a lasting impact on the community," Cory said. "Aniya’s continued success as a member of UW’s Russell labs is helping open doors for young adults that wish to follow in her footsteps. She embodies the transformative power of service, and we are incredibly proud to celebrate her as a Corps Network Corpsmember of the Year."
Aniya is a great example of the ways that Corps can open doors for young people. She believes that today’s youth lack exposure to the wide breadth of career opportunities available to them and thinks Corps could be the solution. Before OFS, Aniya thought she wanted to work in a kitchen. She had no idea that scientific research or working with animals was something that would be available to her, or even something she would enjoy.
OFS staff notes that Aniya always has a smile on her face. Despite cold winters and hot buggy summers, Aniya consistently models a positive attitude and an excitement for learning.
Grateful for OFS, Aniya credits the program with exposing her to career paths she never imagined.
Aniya believes Corps programs are key to helping young people discover opportunities, saying, “Diversity of experiences is especially important for younger Corpsmembers still finding their place in the professional world.”
Operation Fresh Start is one of more than 150 member organizations of The Corps Network. As defined by The Corps Network, Corps are local, state or national programs that engage young adults (generally ages 16 – 30) and veterans (up to age 35) in service activities addressing conservation and community needs. Through a term of service that could last from a few months to a year, Corps participants – or “Corpsmembers” – complete meaningful projects while gaining job experience and developing in-demand skills.
“I am grateful to the thousands of young people who serve in Corps every year. Choosing to put your energy and talents towards helping others is admirable. The Corpsmembers of the Year, however, stand out for their leadership abilities, hard work, perseverance, and commitment to bettering their communities,” said Mary Ellen Sprenkel, President and CEO of The Corps Network.
“I look forward to celebrating our 2025 awardees. The Corpsmembers of the Year represent hope for the future and demonstrate that every individual is capable of making a positive impact in our world. I extend my sincere gratitude to Aniya for serving our country and motivating others to be the best versions of themselves.”
The 2025 Corpsmembers of the Year will be honored at The Corps Network’s annual national conference in Arlington, VA, from March 11 – 13, 2025. For more information about the conference, which will mark the 40th anniversary of The Corps Network, please visit https://corpsnetwork.org/conference. For more information about Operation Fresh Start, please visit https://www.operationfreshstart.org.