Ever considered the opportunity to offer your help or engage with someone you might learn something from? Well, volunteering provides an awesome platform for college students to do so.
In 2013, an estimated 62.6 million American citizens volunteered, of which 26% of volunteers devoted their time to educational opportunities. [i] This paints a great picture of the multiple educational opportunities available at your fingertips nationally. With STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) being a hot topic in education and a major focus within President Barack Obama’s administration, it is important in the volunteering space to help involve more and more youth in STEM initiatives.
There are many STEM related educational programs, like eCYBERMISSION, that provide opportunities for college students to get involved with the community. eCYBERMISSION, a free web-based STEM competition offered by the Army Educational Outreach Program, challenges students in grades six through nine to team up and identify a problem in their community by using scientific practices or engineering design processes to propose a solution and compete for awards up to $9,000 in savings bonds.
Last year, the eCYBERMISSION Volunteer Program created a unique opportunity to involve colleges and universities nationally to participate in the STEM competition as Student Virtual Judges. As the role suggests, Student Virtual Judges help in scoring a minimum of five team projects online, known as Mission Folders. This is an excellent opportunity for college students to connect the engineering and scientific principles in a critical thinking application.
This volunteer opportunity allows college students to not only boost their resumes and build on existing skill sets, but grow as an individual. No matter how students give their time to volunteer, the end goal is that good work is accomplished. The work done with eCYBERMISSION is rewarding and volunteers have the opportunity to make a real difference.
Since the creation of the Student Virtual Judge program, eCYBERMISSION has seen several colleges and universities adopt the volunteer program as part of their STEM curriculum. Some colleges and universities actually require a human relations or community service project for graduation, so volunteering as a judge could definitely meet that requirement. Since this is a STEM competition, students in any of the four disciplines (science, technology, engineering or mathematics) would benefit from this opportunity and if in education, would offer the chance to see what sixth through ninth grade students are capable of doing.
eCYBERMISSION is just one of the many examples of opportunities waiting for you to use. Utilize your ability to engage with others and volunteer. Connect with us on Facebook and Twitter @ecybermission to see how others are taking action!
To register as a Student Virtual Judge, visit http://ecybermission.com/VirtualJudge/RegisterCode.
Learn more at www.ecybermission.com/Roles.
[i] http://www.volunteeringinamerica.gov/National
Category: Extracurricular Opportunity
Delta Phi Epsilon Professional Foreign Service Sorority
Are you interested in international affairs, but maybe haven’t yet found people who want to pick apart U.S. policies on Syria or global environmental regulations with you just yet? Do you crave a community of like-minded women who are equally interested in Scandal and political scandals?
If you chuckled and answered with a resounding “yes!” to one or both of these questions, we’ve got the perfect opportunity for you. Delta Phi Epsilon (DPE) is the nation’s only professional foreign service sorority, and we want YOU! We’re about to kick off our annual recruitment, and we’d love to see some UHPers represented (you’d be joining a solid handful of us who are already in the sorority).
Our organization aims for intellectual education that will facilitate growth and encourage women to pursue careers in international relations. By this we are not merely referring to the foreign service, but also careers in diplomacy, banking, education, consulting, journalism, non-governmental organizations, inter-governmental organizations, multi-national corporations, law, and much more. Apart from our professional aspirations, we are committed to service around the city and around the world. And of course, every sister will tell you how much she values our supportive, close-knit community—DPE is truly a home away from home for many of us.
Curious? Find out more at one of our spring information sessions, where you can learn about our organization and chat with current members. Info sessions will be taking place on Tuesday, January 13th at 7 pm in Marvin 310 and Wednesday, January 14th at 7 pm in Marvin 311. We can’t wait to see you there!
You can also check out our website at www.dpegwu.org, or contact DPErecruitment@gmail.com. We’re on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Pinterest, too!
Elyssa Greenberg is a senior in the UHP and the Recruitment Chair for Delta Phi Epsilon Professional Foreign Service Sorority.
Trust Me, I'm A Doctor
Are you interested in pursuing a doctoral degree? Join the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania for a two-day introductory program in the field of business academia and research. Designed for students who demonstrate a strong interest in math, statistics, economics, psychology/sociology, and engineering related disciplines, this program will give participants an opportunity to experience what it means to be a PhD student and enter a career as a professor, academic, or researcher. Featuring doctoral-level research excercises, a master-level class taught by Wharton faculty, and Q&A with current doctoral students, the Introduction to Diversity in Doctoral Education and Scholarship (IDDEAS) program aims to introduce potential candidates to doctoral opportunities and foster a diverse doctoral student environment.
Program details:
Program dates: April 16-17, 2015
Cost: Attendance and accommodations provided, travel arrangements not included.
Application deadline: January 31st, 2015.
Requirements: Essay, transcript, letter of recommendation from faculty member or advisor.
Access the online application here.
The Extra-Curricular: GW Pitches
Laura Schwartz is a senior majoring in biological anthropology, the business director of the GW Pitches, and a SPA! Her hobbies include knitting, napping, and photocopying.
‘Tis the season – I’m sure you’ve all gotten (and ignored) seven zillion Facebook invites to seven zillion winter a capella concerts. So you might be wondering, what’s the deal with GW a capella, anyway? Do we really make music with only our mouths? (Yes, although clapping and snapping is sometimes a component too.) Do we all want to be Anna Kendrick when we grow up? (Pretty much.) Who gets involved with a capella and why would you want to? (Because it’s awesome!)
Believe it or not, a capella existed before “Pitch Perfect”. (Aca-scuse me?) In fact, as the business director of the GW Pitches, I can tell you that we’ve officially had that name since 1996, so no, we didn’t get the idea from the movie. But thanks for asking. Have we seen “Pitch Perfect” about a zillion times? Oh yeah. Is the world of GW a capella anything like Hollywood’s version? Not much, although there are probably more similarities than we’d like to admit. (Singing on public transportation. Lots of that.)
GW a capella is its own kind of quirky. In the last few years, our community has grown to include three co-ed groups, two all-female groups, and one all male group. The UHP is well represented, including Matt Ricci in the Troubs, Julie Buchsbaum and myself in the Pitches, and others. Most groups have auditions in the fall and spring, with no experience required, and concerts open to the public at the end of every semester. We all sing together officially twice a year (Acapellapalooza in the fall and Battle in the spring) and unofficially lots of other times. If you’re in the middle of a group of a capella singers, someone will start spontaneously beatboxing. It will happen. Just go with it.
(Pitches get-together)
Many of the groups on campus are also involved in community service, taking part in events such as Relay for Life and Dance Marathon. In the past, the Pitches have donated concert proceeds to organizations such as the American Cancer Society and Camp Kesem GW. This semester, our concert will be a benefit for the Michael Lynch Memorial Foundation, which provides scholarships to the children of firefighters and other victims of the 9/11 attacks. If you’d like to support your fellow UHPers, the Pitches, and the Michael Lynch Memorial Foundation, our winter concert will be on Saturday, December 6th at 7:30pm in the United Church (aka the German church on G St). For more information, check out the Facebook event here. Wear your favorite holiday sweater and come check out what we’ve been working on all semester!
(Acapellapalooza)
Volunteer to Trick or Treat for Service with the UHP!
October has nearly come and gone, but not before the SPA and UHP community participate in another great GW service tradition!!!
This Saturday October 25th we will be participating as a group in GW’s Trick or Treat for Service!
What: Trick or Treat for Service is a volunteer initiative. GW students trick or treat in the Foxhall neighborhood (around the Vern), but instead of picking up candy, we will be collecting non-perishable food goods to be donated to the Capitol Area Food Bank. This event has been incredibly successful in the past (up to 10,000 lbs of food have been collected) and will be even more successful if we can get a good showing from the UHP!
Where: Sign in will be taking place in West hall and we will disperse from there to the Foxhall neighborhood.
When: Oct 25th, 2014. There are TWO different shifts: 3-6pm and 5-8pm. Our group is primarily signing up for the 3-6pm shift!
Why: This is an awesome way to bond with your fellow UHPers outside of the classroom or advising while also serving the larger DC community of which we are a part. It’s also a perfect way to show us what costume game you have, because we will be DRESSING UP.
The registration form is available here. Please identify your group as the University Honors Program.
REGISTRATION CLOSES OCT 23RD AT MIDNIGHT – SO SIGN UP NOW!
If you have any other questions: http://trickortreatforservice.wordpress.com or contact Maggie Wedeman.
Research Opportunity: Examining Judgment Bias and Social Perception
The following is an excerpt from a situation questionnaire designed to measure interpretation and judgment bias of social situations in people with social phobia. If you read this excerpt and think to yourself, “Wow, that answer is obvious!” this research opportunity might not be for you. If, however, you read it and consider a variety of options or postulate that your roommate/friend/mom/shy classmate’s answer might be different than yours, read on!
“You are introduced to a friend of one of your best friends. This new person doesn’t say anything to you.
Why isn’t this new person talking to you?” (IJQ; Voncken et al, 2003)
I can think of countless friends and family members who would approach and answer this question differently. This is why research in judgment and interpretation bias is so fun – anyone can relate to it and everyone has a different perspective. For my Master’s thesis, I’m examining the differences (if any) between people who do vs. do not stutter in terms of social perception, judgment and interpretation bias. When I was an undergraduate UHP student at GW, the UHP was an invaluable resource in helping me pursue my research interests. Now, as a graduate student, I’d like to offer a budding researcher the chance to gain some hands-on research experience.
Participation details:
Who: Undergraduate students with an interest in developing more research experience, particularly those with an interest in social dynamics, social perception, being social, or avoiding being social. Coursework may include (but is not limited to) Speech and Hearing Science, Psychology, Anthropology, and/or Linguistics.
What: Part-time Research Assistant position in a stuttering research lab directed by Dr. Shelley Brundage within the Speech and Hearing Science Department. Position is unpaid (sorry! poor graduate student over here!)
When: Fall 2014 and possibly Spring 2015 semesters. Flexible schedule. Weekly time commitment varies, estimated 4-6 hours.
Where: Dr. Brundage’s lab is located in the GW Speech and Hearing Center, conveniently located at the corner of 21st and G streets, within close proximity to free coffee and occasional food at the UHP!
If interested, please email Katie Winters at kwinters@gwmail.gwu.edu for more information.
Earn some extra $$$ Thursday – 9/25
Here’s a quick opportunity to earn some fast cash tomorrow (Thursday, 9/25/14) participating in a fire drill and flow rate assessment at 10 AM at 200 I Street, SE. Participate for 2-3 hours and get paid up to $30/hour!
Chander Jayaraman at strategicedconsulting@gmail.com if you’re interested!
The Extra-Curricular: Colonial Crossfire
“Welcome to Colonial Crossfire, I’m Kevin Frey!”
That’s how I start off every edition of Colonial Crossfire, the political debate and discussion show I moderate on GW’s student-run television station, GW-TV. I have been involved with Colonial Crossfire since I was a freshman. I started behind the scenes, operating the camera and writing scripts before taking the reigns in the anchor chair.
Colonial Crossfire has been an instrumental part of my college career. Not only has it provided me with skills and tools that I can use in journalism and reporting internships, it has also allowed me to work with an incredible group of politically minded people who love to discuss current events.
On each half-hour episode of Colonial Crossfire, we invite two or three student debaters from different sides of the aisle to discuss the latest political headlines. As moderator, I lead these TV forums. We also frequently have big interviews – sometimes with people from around the world, such as a correspondent for The New York Times based in Baghdad. We’ve also interviewed people in studio, including a woman from the World Bank who leads development projects in Africa and the Middle East.
Check out one of our recent episodes here.
Members of the UHP play a big role in running this show. In fact, the Crossfire team is currently (and coincidentally) made up entirely of UHPers. This includes our executive producers, Joanne Zalatoris and Randy Fitzmoris, as well as our fact-checker, Andrew Desiderio.
Who knows? You could be the next addition to our team!
If you’re interested, we are always looking for people who love politics and want a chance to write, edit, research, edit video, and even appear on camera. We use the TV studio in the Media and Public Affairs building, so those on our team also have the chance to learn how to run a control room, monitor audio, work cameras, and more.
Colonial Crossfire tapes on Friday mornings several times each semester in SMPA’s fifth floor TV studio. Interested in joining the team? Email gwcrossfire@gmail.com.
Help cook Chabad GW's Shabbat Dinner with a UHPer
Hello! My name is Annie Kadets and I am sophomore in the Honors Program! I have an AMAZING opportunity for everybody and anybody….
If you are anything like me, upon arriving at college you missed being able to cook and bake. But that is soon to change! Please come and join me and a group of others every Thursday night to help cook Shabbat Dinner for Chabad GW. It’s a low key environment with wonderful food and even better people! We need as much help as we can get so bring a friend or two or three!
This does not have to be a weekly commitment; you are welcome to come whenever you can for however long you have! If you are interested or you have any questions about cooking or anything else you may need feel free to shoot me an email at anniekadets@gwu.edu!
Thinking about grad school? Get a head start with a dual-degree from GW!
Thinking about grad school? Get a head start with a dual-degree from GW!
Sophomore year, as I was completing yet another four year plan, I realized that I had a lot of room in my schedule. I didn’t want to graduate early, so I considered adding another major, going abroad for a full year (instead of one semester), but ultimately decided on pursuing a dual-degree program.
GW has a variety of dual-degree programs. As a Political Science major, I considered a few different degrees. For most dual-degree programs you apply during your spring semester junior year. As a junior, I was recently accepted into the dual-degree program by the Trachtenberg School of Public Policy and Public Administration pursing a Master of Public Administration.
Why a dual degree? There are several reasons I am very excited to start completing my master at GW senior year. First, I’m excited to have a new academic challenge senior year that has me reengage in my academics. Second, I feel a sense of relief as a junior that I already have a plan for after senior year. Finally, I’m excited to stay with GW. After exploring some different schools, GW appeals to be for the same reasons that it did as an undergraduate. The city has an immense amount of opportunities to intern and gain more experience while pursuing a degree.
Save time and money! There is along list of other considerations that made a dual-degree program the right choice for me. A couple other things to consider are the financial and time benefits. Because of my undergraduate scholarship and how requirements double count between my BA and MPA, I’m saving money. Additionally, I’m very excited about going straight through. After going abroad and experiencing a different type of learning, I got a taste of what stopping and then reemerging in academics felt like. It was hard to get back in the swing of things, and I’m glad to be going straight through to graduate school to pursue a degree that I know I what and will serve me well in my career.
Recommendations: Talk to people! Of course. Talk with our UHP advisors. Talk with other UHP students. Talk with the liaison of the program your thinking about. Also, if you’re seriously considering it, make sure you understand the requirements (particularly the standardized test requirement). Requirements vary from program to program and you don’t want a silly test to stand in the way of you and this great opportunity.
