Formed in 2009, the College of Earth and Mineral Sciences (EMS) Academy for Global Experience, or EMSAGE, is the college’s signature undergraduate program for fostering experiential and global competence and promoting a spirit of integrity, service, and leadership. By comprehensively embracing these principles, students develop into leaders in their chosen discipline who possess the breadth and maturity to extend their knowledge to address society’s most pressing problems.
Students who attain significant achievement beyond their academic degree requirements across the broad categories of scholarship, experiential learning and global literacy, and service are recognized by the college with the distinctive designation of EMSAGE Laureate. Beginning in the Fall 2019 semester, students hoping to attain Laureate status may apply to be Protégés or Practitioners (see below), creating an EMSAGE community to foster their success.
EMSAGE LAUREATES
Students enrolled in majors within the College of Earth and Mineral Sciences can be awarded Laureate status through notable achievement in scholarship, experiential learning and global literacy, and service. These achievements typically go beyond the experiences associated with earning their primary academic degree. Students seeking elevation to Laureate status must apply once they are within 36 credits of graduation and have achieved at least a 3.0 cumulative GPA. There will be an opportunity to apply twice annually during both the fall and spring semesters and application deadlines will be announced on this page. An important aspect of the Laureate application is an essay that ties together their experiences and describes how these experiences have helped them evolve over time at Penn State into the person they are today.
WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF GRADUATING AS AN EMSAGE LAUREATE?
Students striving for Laureate status actively pursue activities and accomplishments that demonstrate breadth and depth in areas such as academic excellence, global awareness, professional and civic service, and leadership beyond those that are expected as a part of their degree completion.. Thus, upon graduation, EMSAGE Laureates have compiled a resume that will provide a substantial competitive edge in the global economy. In addition, EMSAGE Laureates are formally recognized with a crystal Laureate memento and certificate and are enshrined on the EMSAGE Laureate roster in the Ryan Family Student Center.
STAGES OF THE EMSAGE PROGRAM
Undergraduate students aspiring to Laureate status are encouraged to actively plan their academic and professional development. Students should set goals in each of the three principal areas that are consistent with their interests and develop an engagement plan to achieve them. Suggestions from faculty, mentors and advisors are a great resource, and assistance is available from the Director of Student Engagement. Applicants should keep a portfolio of their activities and accomplishments to aid in the application process.
The EMSAGE program has three phases to support students in obtaining Laureate status and to promote a vibrant community of engaged scholars: Protégés, Practitioners, and Laureates. Students do not need to participate in every stage to apply for Laureate status, but it is strongly encouraged.
EMSAGE Protégés
Students in good standing who have completed at least 12 university credits (earned after high school) and are interested in becoming EMSAGE Laureates but have had limited experiences beyond the classroom (e.g. internships, co-ops, research) can apply to be EMSAGE Protégés. To become an EMSAGE protégé, a student will need to submit an engagement plan detailing the activities they might engage in to work toward Laureate status. In addition, protégés will receive mentoring from EMSAGE Practitioners and Laureates.
EMSAGE Practitioners
Students in good standing with at least 24 Penn State credits who have met at least half of the requirements for Laureate status, including experiences beyond the classroom, can apply to be an EMSAGE Practitioner. If the applicant does not have a 3.0 cumulative GPA, it must be mathematically possible to reach a 3.0 with the remaining credits in their intended degree. To become a practitioner, students will need to submit a one-page essay detailing at least five experiences (examples are given below in the EMSAGE Laureate Requirements section) that they have completed from across the areas of scholarship, experiential learning and global literacy, and service, along with an engagement plan for how they will complete the remainder of the EMSAGE Laureate requirements. Practitioners will serve as valuable resources for Protégés and will receive mentoring from the EMSAGE Laureates.
EMSAGE Laureates
Each semester, students who are within 36 credits of completing their undergraduate degree and have at least a 3.0 cumulative GPA will be able to apply to be an EMSAGE Laureate. Laureates will serve as mentors and role models for practitioners and protégés. Deadlines for Laureate applications for each academic year will be announced at the beginning of the fall semester.
EMSAGE LAUREATE REQUIREMENTS
The selection process is rigorous and applicants should review the submission requirements well in advance of the deadline. Late submissions will not be accepted. Although GPA is important (at least a 3.0 GPA), there is also a required essay that must tell the student’s unique story and is crucial to presenting a convincing argument for why they are an EMSAGE Laureate. This essay (max. two typed pages, double-spaced; 12-pt font; 1 inch margins) is the applicant's opportunity to tell the committee how their Penn State experiences contributed to why they are an EMSAGE Laureate. It should be creative, logically organized, and use specific examples to provide a convincing argument. The essay is not a list of achievements. The narrative should link the applicant's achievements in a cohesive fashion guiding their audience to appreciate the unique path they have taken to increase their skills in at least three of the five key engagement competencies (Professional Development, Multicultural Awareness, Civic Responsibility, Systems Thinking, Ethical Reasoning) across the EMSAGE categories of Scholarship, Experiential Learning and Global Literacy, and Service. The essay is a crucial part of the EMSAGE application and editing and proofreading is essential to a successful submission.
In addition to the GPA and essay requirements, applicants will need to submit a resume, headshot and a photo related to one of their accomplishments. Students will need to list a minimum of nine accomplishments balanced across the three areas of: Scholarship, Experiential Learning and Global Literacy, and Service. These accomplishments should be experiences that were not required in the completion of their primary academic degree. Examples of achievement in each of these three areas may include, but are not limited to the following:
Scholarship
- Enrolled in an Integrated Undergraduate/Graduate degree program (IUG) in the College of Earth and Mineral Sciences
- Enrolled in one or more minors or concurrent majors
- Demonstrated proficiency in foreign language(s)
- Dean’s list for 4 or more semesters
- Recipient of a prominent scholarship award (Examples: Bunton-Waller, Udall, Goldwater, NSF, Truman, Rhodes, Marshall, Erickson Discovery Grant, etc.)
- Publication in peer-reviewed literature
- Presentation of original research findings (poster of oral presentation)
Experiential Learning and Global Literacy
- Participation in International Internship and/or Study Abroad programs
- Participation in Cooperative Education and/or Internship programs
- Participation in a Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU) program or equivalent participation in undergraduate research
- Participation in CAUSE projects or an academic project with an international travel component
- Participation in extended field studies (beyond degree requirements)
- Presentation at a professional forum (not research related, for research see Scholarship)
- Work experience relevant to your EMS major (Ex. Course Learning Assistant for pay or credit)
- Unique life experiences (Examples: military service, Peace Corps, extensive travel, living abroad, etc.)
Service
- Participation as a mentor in TEEMS
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Participation in recruitment efforts (EMS Ambassador or departmental equivalent, EMS Connect)
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Active participation in professional societies
- Educational outreach (Examples: mentor in SEEMS, ASM Camp, WISE Camp, Weather Outreach and Education (WOE), school visitations, EMEX, EMS Museum Docent, etc.)
- Participation and service in student organizations or commissions (Examples: EMS Student Council, Irvin Interest House LLC, Campus Weather Service IFC/Panhellenic Council, UPUA, Faculty Senate, FISE, etc.)
- Participation in local, state, or federal government (Examples: Congressional Fellow, Volunteer helper with voter registration, etc.)
- Civic and volunteer service (Examples: Habitat for Humanity, Food Bank, Big Brother/Sister, Red Cross Blood Drive, Meals on Wheels, etc.)
- Demonstrated commitment to diversity (Examples: World in Conversation discussion facilitator, LGBTQA; Commission on Racial/Ethnic Diversity.)
- Peer mentoring
- Tutoring (unpaid)
- Resident Assistant
- Demonstrated leadership in the organizations of which you are a member
Please note that achieving Laureate status will require accomplishments in a minimum of nine activities that demonstrate balance across each of these categories and are typically beyond the experiences required for attaining your primary academic degree .
EMSAGE PROTÉGÉ AND PRACTITIONER APPLICATIONS
EMSAGE LAUREATE APPLICATION
DEADLINES
FALL 2024
Applications open August 26, 2024
- Laureate Application Deadline: September 15, 2024 11:59 p.m.
- Practitioner Application Deadline: September 15, 2024 11:59 p.m.
- Protégé Applications are always open and have no deadline, they can be submitted at any time.
SPRING 2025
Applications open January 13, 2025
- Laureate Application Deadline: February 2, 2025 11:59 p.m.
- Practitioner Application Deadline: February 2, 2025 11:59 p.m.
- Protégé Applications are always open and have no deadline, they can be submitted at any time.
CONTACT
For questions and additional information regarding the EMSAGE program please contact:
Karen T. Marosi
Director of Student Engagement
Ryan Family Student Center (14 Deike)
814-865-7482
ket2@psu.edu