Youth Environmental Leadership Program
Meet the 2024-2025 Youth Environmental Leaders
Stanton College Preparatory School, International Baccalaureate (I.B.) Program
Lindsay Johnson
Stanton College Preparatory School, International Baccalaureate (I.B.) Program
Sophie Lankarani
The Bolles School
Haley Patel
Oscar Stone
Stanton College Preparatory School, International Baccalaureate (I.B.) Program
Elle Wight
Stanton College Preparatory School, International Baccalaureate (I.B.) Program
Program Details
Outcomes and Requirements
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Program Overview
Environmental Pre-College Experience at UNF
An orientation was held on Thursday, June 13, 2024 at UNF. YELP students came to UNF to learn about environmental leadership, sustainability, and physical and social science. The opportunity to meet IERE environmental professors, students, and environmental community leaders, and get to know more about UNF too was provided. Representation from Timucuan Parks Foundation was also in attendance to partner with a YELP student to complete a project (CAS project).
Environmental Leadership UNF Training Course
Complete IERE Environmental Leadership training course online and receive certificate. This is an online training course you can complete in approximately 10 hours.
Environmental Science and Studies UNF Training Course
Complete IERE Environmental Sustainability 101 course online and receive certificate. This is an online training course you can complete in approximately 10 hours.
Environmental Campus and Community Service
Volunteer and support environmental initiatives with IERE and or Timucuan Parks Foundation (TPF).
Environmental CAS Project Development and Implementation
Students will develop and implement their CAS (or community-based service) project with UNF and or Timucuan Parks Foundation. This project will likely build off service work. Projects should meet an organizational need and CAS requirements, and hopefully be consistent with the student's personal and academic goals.
Professional Development and Workshops
There are planned communication and development meetings to ensure student success over the course of the. year. These meetings are more frequent (weekly) earlier in the program over the development phase in the summer. These meetings can be scheduled on Zoom. Once the project is identified, meetings will be tailored based on need. There is also a required workshop in March on campus.
UNF’s Environmental Leadership Symposium
In April, YELP students will develop a poster presentation summarizing their CAS project and impact. YELP students are required to attend and present their poster at UNF's Environmental Leadership Symposium April 18, 2025 from 8 - 11 a.m. at UNF. We will communicate with your school on your behalf and we expect this will be recognized as an excused absence. UNF students will also be presenting their work at the Symposium as well. The Symposium is attended by approximately 150 people (IERE professors, IERE students, environmental community partners, donors, and guests). The YELP and UNF student presentations will be a conference-style poster presentation session. YELP and UNF students will also be recognized with an award and cords for graduation at the symposium.
Mentoring
The last two months of the program (in May and June 2025), YELP students will complete evaluation criteria focused on the impact of the experience on their personal and professional growth for UNF, as well as debrief with their community organization. In addition, YELP students are expected to attend the first day of the Environmental Pre-College Experience at UNF for the incoming class of YELP students and share their experience. This will take place in early June 2025.
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Benefits
- Competitive, merit-based award for top high school students in NE Florida
- Avenue to complete CAS (or other service learning) project
- Pre-college experience at UNF
- Training in environmental science/studies and environmental leadership and certificates of completion
- Networking with environmentally-focused UNF staff, professors, and students, community partners, community leaders, other high school students and scholars
- Award presented at UNF Environmental Symposium
- Graduation cords presented at UNF Environmental Symposium
- Present CAS project (poster presentation) at UNF Environmental Symposium
- Opportunity to mentor next year’s YELP high school scholars
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Evaluation Criteria and Selection Process
Applications have been closed for the 2024-2025 school year.
The application process includes the opportunity to describe your academic achievements and merit to date, interest in environmental science and or studies, especially the priority listed this year, and your interest in joining the UNF Youth Environmental Leadership Program and serving as a YELP Scholar. A list of professional or academic references that we may contact will need to be included. Applications will be evaluated by UNF professors, staff, and or community council members based on academic merit, community and relevant experiences, and the idea to address the priority area. Awardees will be required to sign an agreement form, indicating they can attend the highlighted dates in person.