Pre-Session Activity 1: Connecting with families

Our team will meet with each Ambassador and one of their guardians to discuss the program and onboarding process. We will ask our families to submit the student's W9 and direct deposit authorization forms at that time. Our team estimates the meetings will take 45-60 minutes each.

During the meeting, the student will complete the following forms:

·         MUSC Minor Guidelines

·         Ambassador Code of Conduct and Technology

·         Social Media Release

·         Transportation

Pre-Session Activity 2: Becoming an Ambassador

Orientation day is the Ambassadors' first on-campus experience with our program. Our goal is to connect the Ambassadors and our program team.

During this session, the students will complete the following:

·         Program headshots

·         TB appointment

·         Submit MUSC application

·         Program pre-assessments

·         PBS Storymaker's Research and understanding activity

Session 1: Exploring the Medical University of South Carolina

Our mentor teams (Senior Mentors, Near-peer Mentors, and Ambassadors) will explore the Medical University of South Carolina campus. We want our students to become more acquainted with the campus and strengthen intracohort bonds.

During this session, the students will complete the following:

·         Mentor team activity

·         MUSC scavenger hunt

Session 2: Learning more about alcohol, substance, and the teen brain

Our team's research focuses on adolescent development, substance use, and effective treatment programs. In this session, the students will learn more about the structure and function of the brain, how alcohol and substances impact the brain, and how early substance use can affect the teen brain. The students will be able to view a real-life healthy brain.

During this session, the students will complete the following:

·         Alcohol, substance use, and the teen brain talk

·         Mentor-Mentee time

Session 3: Visiting the Center for Biomedical Imagining (CBI) at the Medical University of South Carolina

Neuroimaging is a critical approach to studying the structure and function of the brain. We will continue to build on the concepts introduced in session 2. Our center supports two MRI systems available to the MUSC research community. The students will view our mock scanner room and interact with our neuroscience models.

During this session, the students will complete the following:

·         CBI tour

·         Neuroscience models

·         Mentor-Mentee time

Session 4: Growing as an Ambassador 

At the close of this semester, each Ambassador will present at the MUSC Teen Science Ambassador Research Day poster session. To prepare our students for this event, we will help them improve their presentation skills. We want to help our students feel confident at graduation. Moreover, we will celebrate and encourage the racial, cultural, and gender identities of all our students. In doing so, we hope to empower them to show their most confident selves to the world.

During this session, the students will complete the following:

·         Growing as an Ambassador training

·         Mentor-Mentee time

Session 5: Navigating the world as a person from a diverse background

Through this conversation, we will navigate real and honest obstacles facing people from diverse backgrounds. Our discussion will be through the lens of working as a STEM professional but applies to our Ambassadors holistically. The panelists guiding us through this experience will share racial, cultural, and gender identities with our students.

During this session, the students will complete the following:

·         Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion Panel

·         Mentor-Mentee time

Session 6: Discovering ways to finance and prepare for careers in alcohol and substance research

Many of our Ambassadors express an interest in continuing their education after high school. We will host a college panel to connect the students with current and past college graduates. The panelist featured will share racial, cultural, and gender identities with our students. We hope the conversation encourages the students that there are multiple career pathways and ways to help pay for their educational interests.

During this session, the students will complete the following:

·         College Panel

·         Mentor-Mentee time

Session 7: Spotlighting unique career pathways to alcohol and substance research

We hope to increase our students' research career awareness and self-identification as STEM

professionals through our research spotlight series. The researchers featured will share racial, cultural, and gender identities with our students. In doing some, we hope the students see themselves represented in the field and cultivate a sense of belonging. Also, we will highlight the importance of supporting and advocating for diversity, equity, inclusion, and access to STEM careers.

During this session, the students will complete the following:

·         Diversity in Research Spotlight

·         Mentor-Mentee time

Session 8: Preparing for Research Day

We want to ensure that our students have ample time to prepare for their research poster and presentation. The students will work alongside their mentors (Senior and Near-peer) to support their posters.

During this session, the students will complete the following:

·         Cohort Teambuilder

·         Mentor-Mentee time

Session 9: Practicing for Research Day

Ambassadors will practice for their poster session during a complete run of show for our graduation ceremony and research day. Finally, our Near-peer mentors will also rehearse for the graduation ceremony.

During this session, the students will complete the following:

·         Practice for Research Day Poster Session

·         Graduation Ceremony Rehearsal

Session 10: Presenting at Research Day

This session marks our graduation and research day program. With great happiness, our team is excited to celebrate our Ambassadors, Near-peer mentors, and Senior mentors for the fantastic work they accomplished this semester.

During this session, the students will complete the following:

·         Graduation Ceremony

·         Research Day Poster Session

Post-Session Activity: Completing post-program activities 

Students will participate in a focus group with our external evaluation team. Additionally, they complete their post-assessment surveys.