Stewards of the Environment

The “Good Stewards of the Environment” Science Program is an extracurricular program designed to peak the interest of Hispanic students in science as a career. Throughout the program students will learn the process of scientific investigation through research, experimentation and discussion of the current environmental concerns for our water and our atmosphere. The North Carolina Society for Hispanic Professionals will choose 20 students to participate in the program with no cost to the student. The monetary value of the program per student is $2,400 but the educational value is immeasurable. The “Good Stewards of the Environment” Science Program is funded by a Science Enrichment Grant from the Burroughs Wellcome Fund.

Important Dates

Application packages will be available Feb. 1. They can be obtained by writing or calling the NCSHP or by downloading an application.

Final applications must be postmarked by March 7th. Award announcements will be mailed by March 25th and will be announced at the Hispanic Educational Summit 2008 on April 4, 2008.

Eligibility Criteria

• Applicant is of Hispanic background (one parent must be fully Hispanic or both parents must be half Hispanic).
• Applicant is a rising 7th, 8th or 9th grade student in Wake County, Durham County, Orange County, Johnston County, Granville County, Franklin County, Harnett county, or Chatham County.

Selection Criteria

Please submit the following items in one sealed envelope to the NCSHP by March 7th, 2008. Packets postmarked after the 7th of March will not be accepted.

  • 2 letters of recommendation: Please submit 2 letters of recommendation one from your science teacher and one from another teacher, principal, employer or other community leader who can discuss the applicant’s:
    1. Current academic status
    2. Academic and extracurricular achievements
    3. Personal qualities such as motivation, commitment, and leadership
    4. Potential for success and contributions to your community
    Recommendation letters need to be placed in an envelope and sealed by the person giving the recommendation.

  • 2008 1st Semester Report Card
  • Personal statement: An essay of 200 words addressing briefly each of the following topics:
    1. Why you are interested in this program?
    2. Describe your feelings on the current health of our environment.
    3. Do you think that your generation should be concerned with the health of our environment?
PROGRAM DETAILS

The goal of this project is to give students a chance to learn through observation, exploration and experimentation how to be a good steward of their environment.

Program Schedule:

April 26th – Tour the NC Museum of Natural Science in Raleigh, discuss the various NC habitats and
their importance.

May 17th – Speaker from the Town of Cary, Department of Public Works and Utilities, to discuss water quality testing.

June 23rd-25th – Discuss water quality at the macro and micro level and conduct tests of local lakes, such as Crabtree Lake and Jordan Lake.

July 7th – 10th – Water Quality testing of the Atlantic Ocean at the NC coast, a trip to the NC Aquarium at Pine Knoll Shores and the City of New Bern.

August 30th – Living Downstream educational program with the NC State Centennial Campus.

September 27th – Stream Investigation educational program with the NC State Centennial Campus.

October 25th – Discuss and explore conservation of water

November 15th – Learn how to compost.

December 13th, January 31st, and February 28th – Gather results of the macro and micro tests of both lakes and the Atlantic Ocean at the NC coast, begin to work on an awareness campaign to be presented at the Hispanic Educational Summit 2009. The importance of this campaign is to inform this generation of students how important it is for us all to be good stewards of our environment.

March – Presentation of awareness campaign at Hispanic Educational Summit 2009.