The Young Ambassadors Program (YAP) is a national initiative for graduating high school seniors that uses the Smithsonian Institution’s resources to develop the next generation of Latino leaders in the arts, sciences, and humanities who are concerned about their communities. The Young Adult Program (YAP) encourages individuals to examine different academic and career prospects through the lens of the Hispanic experience. It also provides leadership training. Ford Motor Company Fund has provided significant and ongoing support for this initiative over the past thirteen years.
Students are chosen to travel to Washington, D.C. for a weeklong course at the Smithsonian that focuses on the arts, sciences, and humanities as they relate to Latino communities and cultures. This enrichment program exposes adolescents to a wide range of academic subjects, supporting higher education and fostering the research and appreciation of Hispanic history and identity. It also provides leadership development and skill-building training.
The Washington Week program includes trips to the Smithsonian’s Latino collections and one-on-one conversations with famous experts from a variety of subjects in addition to museum personnel. After the training session, students take part in a four-week interdisciplinary internship at museums and other cultural organizations, including those connected to the Smithsonian, in 18 cities across the United States and Puerto Rico. With the help of this practical component, students can learn practical skills that they can use in their internship projects.
Extension of the application deadline to April 14, 2023
Please study the YAP program materials listed below before applying, especially the applicant guide, which offers a step-by-step procedure for completing the application.
The Smithsonian Institution in Washington, D.C. offers Washington Week YAP students a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to learn while taking part in seminars with famous Latina leaders and researchers. The fellows do internships at one of 17 partner cultural or science museums around the United States and Puerto Rico after spending a week in Washington. For the purpose of promoting early childhood literacy, students also take part in community outreach activities with nearby libraries.
Community Impact
As a Young Ambassador, you will get to impact your community through your Internship experience.
Summer Program Overview
• Participate in a weeklong pre professional and pre-collegiate seminar in Washington, D.C. at the Smithsonian focusing on Latino perspectives with peers from all over the nation.
• Complete a four-week interdisciplinary internship program at a museum or other cultural institution in one of 18 cities in the United States and Puerto Rico.
• Explore careers in the arts, sciences and humanities and meet Latino Leaders.
• Enhance networking skills and knowledge.
Expenses and Program Stipend
• Participation in the Young Ambassadors Program includes meals and accommodations for the duration of the one-week training seminar, and round-trip travel costs to Washington, D.C.
• Students selected are responsible for all expenses during the four-week internship, including transportation, accommodations, and meals.
• The National Museum of the American Latino encourages applicants to select internship sites in their local regions or in regions where applicants may be able to stay with family or friends in the area.
• Upon completion of the five-week program, participants will receive a $2,350 program stipend.
• Students that do not complete the training seminar and four-week internship will not receive the program stipend.
Eligibility
• Up to 24 participants are selected through a competitive process, guided by a selection
committee.
• To be eligible for the program, you must:
• Be a high school senior graduating in 2023;
• Be a U.S. citizen or legal permanent resident of the United States with a valid Social Security Number at the time of application;
• Have a minimum weighted cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 3.25 on a 4.0 scale;
• Be fluent in English;
• Be enrolled full-time in a degree-seeking program at an accredited college of university (2 or 4 year institution) (enrollment will be verified for Fall 2023);
• Commit to participate in the one-week training seminar at the Smithsonian Institution and complete a four-week paid summer internship.
The YAP Alumni Network keeps students engaged beyond the internship and provides them with continuing professional and leadership development opportunities. The YAP network has a 97% graduation rate and is known for transforming high school graduates into college-educated, early-career professionals poised for success. Many alumni embark on successful careers in the arts, business, education, and technology sectors, among others.
Young Ambassadors in Your Community
The Young Ambassadors Program and its Alumni Network implement the Alcancemos community outreach events that include mentor days at local high schools and summer library reading days, which aim to foster Latino success in K-12 and higher education by establishing community near-peer mentors and role models discussing educational opportunities.
How To Apply
Accessing the Application
- Create a Smithsonian Online Academic Appointment System (SOLAA) account by following this link
https://solaa.si.edu. - Register a username and password; please be sure to save this information.
- Once registered in SOLAA, search for the National Museum of the American Latino 2023 Young Ambassadors Program.
- Complete and submit your application for the 2023 YAP with all its materials. These application materials
include your three short statements, one resume, one video, one picture, and one letter of recommendation.
Recommendations
- Please upload your statements and resume as PDF files, if possible. If submitting Microsoft Word
documents, ensure they are .doc files NOT .docx. Please ask your recommenders to do the same. - Photos can be uploaded as .jpg or .pdf.
- Follow the instructions for video upload on the application.
Please note: The application does not recognize special characters or accent marks. Please do not use when filling out the application.
APPLY USING THE LINK BELOW:
Young Ambassadors Program for Graduating High School(Fully-funded,USA)
