Become an Ambassador
Interested in becoming a WV SPOT Ambassador?
Ambassadors Are...
Undergraduate or graduate students attending any West Virginia college or university
Interested in communicating science topics and inspiring K-12 students to consider STEM careers as an option for them
Enthusiastic, reliable, and adaptable people ready to share their college experiences with K-12 students
Individuals looking to develop professional skills like public speaking and improve their resume through real-world experience
Eager to network with WV Science, Education, and Business professionals
Members of a community and team
Just Like You.
Whether you're a STEM major, Education major, Business, major, Theatre major, or any other student, we'd love to have you on our team! Your story, how you decided to go to college and pursue a degree, matters! Your experiences matter and can help inspire other students in West Virginia to pursue their passions. We want all students to know about innovations and important STEM research happening right here in West Virginia. So when they grow up, they know of all the opportunities available to them close to home.
So whether you're fully confident in all things STEM or a bit unsure, we're here to give you all the tools you need to succeed while developing valuable skills along the way.
First generation and traditionally excluded students are especially encouraged to apply, as are students involved in SPACE, Pulsar Search Collaboratory, and First2Network.
How to Apply:
Submit an Ambassador Application.
Contact and meet with one of the WV SPOT Campus Representatives listed below during their offices hours.
Request a letter of recommendation from a professor, teacher, or employer who knows you well. They will need to send it to spot.wv@gmail.com, subject: "Approval for [your name]" prior to September 5th, 2023.
You will receive a decision email shortly after we receive your application and letter. We will include instructions for how to continue your journey as a WV SPOT ambassador in the email.
Want more Information? Contact our Campus Representatives!
West Virginia University, contact Tobi Odeleye at oluwatobi.odeleye@mail.wvu.edu
Marshall University, contact Eugene Shakirov at shakirov@marshall.edu
Fairmont State University, contact Deb Hemler at Deb.Hemler@fairmontstate.edu
WV Wesleyan College, contact Tracey DeLaney at delaney_t@wvwc.edu
Shepherd University, contact Sytil Murphy at smurphy@shepherd.edu
WV State University, contact Hannah Payne at hannah.payne@wvstateu.edu
Bethany College, contact Scott Brothers at sbrothers@bethanywv.edu
Davis & Elkins College, contact Jerod Caligiuri at caligiurij@dewv.edu
West Liberty University, contact Amanda Francis at afrancis@westliberty.edu
WVU Tech, contact Sophie Saint Georges at the general SPOT email at spot.wv@gmail.com
All others, contact Sophie Saint Georges at the general SPOT email at spot.wv@gmail.com
We host our Ambassador Training in the fall (see our For Ambassadors page for dates) but you can become an Ambassador any time throughout the year!
Below are the steps you should follow to make sure you have all the information you need.
Complete the Ambassador Application linked above.
Reach out to your Campus Advisor (emails above for each school) or spot.wv@gmail.com to formally introduce yourself and inform us of your application.
Read over the For Ambassadors page.
If accepted to WV SPOT:
Look over the Presentations & Activities page to get an idea of what presentation you want to pursue and the types of activities we offer.
Join our Facebook Group!
FAQs:
Q: Can I become an Ambassador if the school I attend is not already involved in the WV SPOT program?
A: Absolutely, yes! We are always looking to expand our team to more colleges and universities and your interest and involvement can help us create connections with faculty at your school!
Q: Can I become an Ambassador if I don't have a car? What if I don't have a license?
A: We require Ambassadors to have a valid driver's license but we do not require Ambassadors to have their own car.*
*For the 2020-2021 academic year we do not require Ambassadors to have a license as most presentations will be held virtually.