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Who are Presidential Student Ambassadors?
Presidential Student Ambassadors are student leaders who exemplify Mountaineer values.
They come from diverse backgrounds and academic disciplines, yet they are united
in their passion to make a positive impact on and for West Virginia University.
Requirements
- Are full-time WVU (Morgantown campus) freshmen or sophomores
- Have a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.7 (or high school equivalent if an incoming freshman)
- Exhibit good character, professionalism, and integrity
- Demonstrate effective oral, written, listening and interpersonal communication skills
- Are knowledgeable about:
- WVU, its mission, vision, and values
- studen t life and c ampus organizations
- their colleges, majors, and minors
- future opportunities that their degrees will offer
- Are interested and involved in the university, community service, and leadership activities
- Demonstrate the ability to be part of a team and to communicate with others from diverse backgrounds
- Have the desire to assist others
Responsibilities
Serve as a representative of West Virginia University by:
- Attending university/college/organization events
- Participating in social media outreach
- Providing information and answering questions to various audiences
- Mentoring current and prospective students
- Volunteering for campus and community service events
- Speaking to WVU/community audiences (virtually or in-person)
Benefits of Serving
- Networking with campus administrators, faculty, staff, and students
- Networking with donors/potential donors, alumni, prospective students, and their families
- Enhancing resume by developing:
- Leadership skills
- Public speaking skills
- Interpersonal communication and listening skills
- Service activities
- Sharing their Mountaineer passion!
Applying to Become a PSA
If you received an email from the Presidential Ambassadors Program that you have been nominated to become a PSA, follow the directions provided by completing and submitting the application form as indicated in the email. Note that you will upload a one-page resume and essay (250 words or less), both in pdf format.
Please have the following prepared before filling out the form.
- Essay - A one-page narrative (250 words or less in pdf format) describing why you want to become a Presidential Student Ambassador. Put your name at the top of the document. Save it as lastname-PSA essay (e.g., Smith-PSA essay) and also send a copy to Carolyn.Atkins@mail.wvu.edu.
- Resume - A one-page resume (in pdf format) on which you list your contact information, academic GPA, major(s)/college(s), honors/accomplishments/awards, organizations, service activities (list high school information if you are a first-semester WVU student), etc. Save it as last name-PSA resume (e.g., Smith-PSA resume) and also send a copy to Carolyn.Atkins@mail.wvu.edu.
If you
did not receive an email from the Presidential Ambassadors Program
but you are interested in applying to become a PSA, follow the guidelines
above and either (1) ask a professor to nominate you by the announced due date,
or (2) ask two professors to write a letter of recommendation for you. Letters
must be on letterhead, signed, and uploaded to the application along with a one-page
resume and essay. Contact
Carolyn.Atkins@mail.wvu.edu to request the submission due date which is typically
during or following the week that mid-semester grades are due
(Check appropriate
Academic Calendar at
https://provost.wvu.edu/academic-calendar to determine date.)
Selection and Notification
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The Selection Committee uses the following criteria
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cumulative GPA (3.7 minimum)
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community/university service
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leadership activities in organizations
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honors/awards
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college/school representation
- nomination/letters of reference
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Students selected will receive an invitation from President Gordon Gee to enroll in the Presidential Student Ambassadors class the following semester.
Dr. Carolyn Atkins
WVUe 280 - Presidential Student Ambassadors: Leading and Serving, 3 credit hours
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While it is leadership, service-learning, and Honors course, non-Honors students may enroll in the PSA class, if selected.
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PSAs will engage in numerous public speaking assignments throughout the semester
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In addition to accumulating a minimum of 40 service hours, they will attend at least 20 leadership events offered during class or approved by Student Engagement and Leadership.
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PSAs who fulfill the course requirements will become Certified Student Leaders, a designation awarded by Student Engagement and Leadership.
PSAs in action
Cohort 2 poses with former Mountaineer mascot, Trevor Kiess, after listening to his presentation, The Mountaineer as a Leader.
Books ready to mail!
With guidance from Larry and Connie Banta from the Appalachian Prison Book Project, PSAs in Cohort 10 fulfilled book requests from incarcerated individuals.