Public Service Center Scholars

The Program is now recruiting its new class in Fall 2012. For more information, please contact Amy K. Somchanhmavong, Associate Director, Service-Learning at ayk3@cornell.edu or 607-254-8072.

Application Process

PLEASE SUBMIT APPLICATIONS VIA EMAIL TO AYK3@CORNELL.EDU (SUBJECT: Public Service Center Scholars Application)

THE PUBLIC SERVICE CENTER SCHOLARS APPLICATIONS CONSIST OF THE FOLLOWING ITEMS:

  • CONTACT INFORMATION SHEET 
  • SHORT ESSAYS 
  • RESUME 
  • CORNELL TRANSCRIPT


Download the application here.

Semi-finalists will first interview with a Cornell Public Service Center staff person and/or a Public Service Center Faculty Fellow. After the initial interview, finalists will be asked to provide references.  Decisions will be communicated before the registration deadline for Spring semester courses.

If you have questions or would like to set up an appointment to talk about the Public Service Center Scholars, please contact Amy Kuo Somchanhmavong, Assistant Director, Community Programs at ayk3@cornell.edu or 607-254-8072

Overview of the Program

The Public Service Center Scholars (PSCS) is an integrative program that combines service, leadership, academic, internship, and employment opportunities based at the Public Service Center.  The program is designed to promote scholarship and service that is responsive to the concerns of the community and contributes to the common good.  

PSCS works with students who are motivated to develop their leadership skills and play a significant role in elevating active citizenship at Cornell University.  PSCS provides an opportunity for undergraduate students to engage in meaningful volunteer, community service-learning and social advocacy work.  This unique program will provide a select group of undergraduate students with a sustained and sequential service-learning experience that includes close faculty mentorship and guidance culminating in certification and recognition as a Public Service Center Scholar upon graduation. 

Goals

  • Promote the University’s land grant mission of service by fostering civic engagement between the University, its students, and the community
  • Encourage students to become more actively involved in their community
  • Develop students’ skills and traits for active democratic citizenship
  • Recognize students’ outstanding service and public scholarship
  • Advance service-learning and other forms of public scholarship in colleges and departments to enhance teaching and learning, and students’ overall educational experience


Benefits

There are many incentives to being a Public Service Center Scholar.  As Scholars, students are provided with support, faculty mentorship, and funding resources to see their community projects come to fruition.  Students will have access to various leadership development and skill based training opportunities to support their work in the community.  Additionally, Scholars will have access to a professional development fund, which enables them to receive funding for opportunities such as travel to national conferences and workshops off campus. 

Eligibility

The program is open only to full-time Cornell undergraduate students that have at least 4 semesters remaining and have a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher. 

Requirements

  • Enroll in the Introduction to Service Learning for Democratic Citizenship course in Spring 2009 and Introduction to Global Citizenship in the following semesters.
  • Participate in the January retreat, 2 days before the start of the Spring academic semester, January 15-16.
  • Participation in the Public Service Center’s Leadership Series.  Participants must complete a minimum of two skill development seminars.  
  • Complete a minimum of 300 service hours as a Scholar in the program. 
  • Engage in a full-time summer internship at a non-profit, government agency or other public interest setting domestically or abroad.
  • Create and keep a service-learning plan and portfolio.  
  • Complete a capstone research project by the Spring semester of the senior year. Students will submit proposals for research projects at the beginning of the Spring semester of their junior year. They will be assigned faculty mentors to guide their research. The research project can be an extended paper for a course or a senior thesis submitted to the student’s major.
  • Maintain a minimum GPA of 3.0.

PSC Scholars

  • Jessica Barragan
  • Esther Cyn
  • Adelaine Davidoff
  • Steven Ham
  • Rachel Harmon
  • Shayra Kamal
  • Michelle Lee
  • Mytien Nguyen
  • Sam Ritholtz
  • Deborah Rose