Student Application

Apply to become and Environmental Health Ambassador.

We take rolling submissions for new students throughout the year. Please fill out the form below.

Once completed, please send a letter recommendation via email to friends@hbcac.org. Your application will not be considered until this is received.

A letter from the President:

Dear student,

Thank you for taking an interest in our most valuable Students and Scientists Environmental Research Scholarship Program sponsored by Prevention Is The Cure, Inc., a campaign of the Huntington Breast Cancer Action Coalition. Our program is designed for the highly motivated, independent-minded high school student with an interest and strength in science and communication. Our program focuses on common threads among chronic disease and how the environment increases our risk. Students are presented with a unique opportunity to work beside world-renowned professionals and with us in the community, translating and disseminating that information on multiple platforms. The program is broken up into three parts; training, experience, and community connection. The internship experience is fully subsidized by Prevention Is The Cure™.

While students can join at any time, there is a formal timeline for students who apply during our recruitment months (January-February). Part one is comprised of weekly training sessions starting in April after school, partially in our offices or on zoom from 3:30-5 (approximately 20 hours, transportation required when in office). Students who join outside of this timeline will independently complete their training.

Part two is field experience and projects during the summer, sometimes continuing into the school year where students are placed in a mentorship or on a community project to learn the science through engagement (approximately 50 hours).

Part three continues throughout the year as students educate the community on the science and living healthier lives (approximately 30 hours). A total minimum of 100 hours is required over a one year period.

Please complete the below application. Completed application and recommendation letter sent to friends@hbcac.org required to be considered and taken to the next step, an interview.

An important objective of Huntington Breast Cancer Action Coalition is to promote public health and wellness by exploring environmental triggers which contribute to disease. It is our expectation that students develop project related materials and to participate in activities geared towards educating their peers/community members. Over the past twenty years, our students have presented their research findings across the national landscape, at the NIEHS national science conference; National Honor Society inductions; cultivated environmental teen clubs; disseminated information at health fairs; written published articles; as well as testified before the Suffolk County legislature in support of banning Bisphenol A (BPA) in baby bottles, sip cups, and store thermal receipts. We are proud of these efforts that led to legislation passed in 2009 with the “Toxin-Free Toddlers and Babies Act” and “Safer Sales Slip Act.”

Once a student is accepted into the SSERSP, both the school and student agree to get approval from HBCAC as well as their laboratory advisor prior to submission into any competition and/or publication pertaining to the student’s research.

Thank you for your interest. We look forward to receiving your application.

Sincerely,

The Huntington Breast Cancer Action Coalition team

Name

First Name

Last Name

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Date of Birth

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Have you ever been convicted of a crime? If yes, give date(s), offense(s), and disposition(s):

Have you had past volunteer or paid internship experience? If yes, where?

Provide one reference (no family members) Name, phone number, and relationship:

Physician name, address, and contact

Emergency Contact Name and Relationship

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Emergency Contact Email

Outline and Expectations

OUTLINE How: The program is broken up into three parts: • Foundational learning: build knowledge of environmental health and messaging strategies through long distance learning with health professionals, self-directed learning, and team skill building sessions. • Field experience: learn the science through engagement on team projects. • Community messaging: students educate the community through presentations and educational materials. Why: Primary prevention is paramount. We need to find leaders among our youth, who will drive the future. Your role as an Ambassador is to inspire a cultural shift from a reactive to a proactive society that will alter the trajectory of personal and public health. The change starts with you. We will focus on personal investment in environmental health through education and shift to public health changes through your voice. The average person influences 10,000 others, you will impact even more and take this perception through your careers. This program is not a check mark experience, it is engaging in a new way of thinking. While you will take these experiences with you through life, we will bring your active participation into the following school year. An important objective of Huntington Breast Cancer Action Coalition is to promote public health and wellness by exploring environmental triggers which contribute to disease. It is our expectation that where appropriate, students prepare abstracts and scientific posters to be presented at national conferences and to participate in activities geared towards educating their peers/community members. Over the past twenty years, starting with our students presenting their environment and health research projects at the annual National Institutes of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS), Breast Cancer and the Environment Research Program (BCERP) conference; students have expanded the awareness of environmental health research through National Honor Societies, cultivated environmental teen clubs, disseminated information at health fairs; written published articles, as well as testified before the Suffolk County legislature in support of banning Bisphenol A (BPA) in baby bottles, sippy cups, and store thermal receipts. We are proud of these efforts that led to legislation passed in 2009 with the “Toxin-Free Toddlers and Babies Act” and “Safer Sales Slip Act.” STUDENT EXPECTATIONS COMMUNICATION Communication is key, you are here to learn about communicating the science you learn from your experiences. Stay in touch with the office on a regular basis via email and Slack and make the office aware of all updates, ideas, commitments, submissions of work to other parties, and all other relevant information. Written and other material you wish to share to other parties requires approval and recognition of the HBCAC program. ATTENDANCE You are required to attend regular meetings, days and times TBD. Meetings take place generally after school, between 3:30 and 5. Sometimes they are in person, sometimes they are zoom based. RESPONSIBILITY Students are responsible to stay on track. This is a real-world experience, we will not hold your hand. You will need to organize your time and work efficiently. You will track your hours each week to demonstrate your work effort. If you cannot attend something, notice must be given far in advance and you will make up what was missed. We will keep in contact with students’ mentors who recommended them. PROBATION Students who do not meet the expectations throughout the year will have their spot given up. We expect you will act respectfully and work diligently. Throughout the year, evaluations will take place quarterly. COLLABORATIONS Students many work on a variety of projects with HBCAC and researchers. Any and all communications or inquiries to laboratory/health professionals/research facility must be made through HBCAC. All student information pertaining to internship & research work (essays, abstracts, articles) must be approved by HBCAC and related advisors prior to submission to competitions and/or publishing requests. HBCAC has the rights to use and display on its websites/online newsletter any and all of the student’s work pertaining to the SSERSP for educational & informational purposes. As we will not grant or give other’s permission to use or publish the student’s work, we are not liable for unauthorized use. By writing my name below, I acknowledge these expectations and should I be chosen, adhere to them.

Student Agreement

By writing my name below, I certify that all matters contained in this application are true, authorize their investigation, and agree that any misleading or false statements would render this application void and would be sufficient cause for immediate dismissal from the program. I am aware that I am applying for an internship with no present or future promise of compensation for my services. I acknowledge that I will treat as confidential all information that I may read or hear, directly or indirectly. If accepted for the Students Scientists Environmental Research Scholarship Program, I agree to conform to the rules and regulations in HBCAC and the institution (if applicable) to that which I am assigned. I agree to complete all post-program evaluation and essay requirements.

What makes you a good fit for the program?

In 500 words, please explain why you are interested in the HBCAC internship, which background experiences make you a good fit for the program, and what you hope to gain from this experience.

Additional Notes