PSO Student Scholars

Helping undergraduates experience UGA’s land and sea-grant mission

This year-long program provides understanding of the purpose, breadth and depth of UGA’s reach across Georgia through hands-on experiences with the eight units of Public Service and Outreach (PSO). Students will be encouraged to link those experiences with their career and educational goals. The program was first established in Spring 2011 and is supported by the Office of the Vice President for Public Service and Outreach and administered through the Office of Service-Learning, a unit of PSO.

Program Overview

Fall Semester

• Hands-on leadership development
• Visit the Public Service and Outreach units on Fridays
  • Learn about the units’ mission, work and opportunities for involvement
  • Meet with PSO administrators, staff and faculty
• Spend a weekend visiting Skidaway Island near Savannah, home to UGA’s Marine Education Center and Aquarium
• Take part in hands-on service opportunities
  • Thanksgiving “Turkeypalooza” – food collection and meal distribution through the Office of Service-Learning’s Campus Kitchen at UGA

Spring Semester

• Participate in structured, 120-150 hour internships with one of the eight Public Service and Outreach units or the vice president’s office
• Receive mentorship and supervision by a faculty or staff member
• Meet with university administrators
• Receive recognition at the Public Service and Outreach Annual Meeting and participate in professional development
• Serve as ambassadors for the program
• Have the option for paid summer internships with a unit (does not have to be same one from spring internship)

To apply students should submit:

“Our program assessment shows that participating students report a statistically significant increase in their self-efficacy for successfully serving their community, and in their knowledge about the public service mission of UGA,” said Paul Matthews, associate director for the Office of Service-Learning and creator of the program.

Past participants have gone on to receive Fulbright Fellowships, entered medical school, been named Schwarzman Scholars, gone to graduate school in a range of fields, taught for Teach for America, entered the foreign service, been Boren Scholars, served as AmeriCorps VISTAs and have gone on to pursue successful careers in a wide variety of fields.

Here’s what past PSO Student Scholars have to say about the program:

“One of the best experiences I have had at the University of Georgia thus far”;

“I feel like I have learned so much more about the university and about myself through participating in the program.”

“By far the single most impactful thing I have done during college”;

“Without having the experiences afforded me by this program, I would not be where I am today… PSO really did change my life.”