RISE for Youth
2021 - 2022 Student Application
Application is now open from November 15, 2021 to March 1, 2022.
Program Description
The RISE for Youth program is a new strategic collaboration between Mayo Clinic and the Rochester Branch of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) to help address some of the racial disparities and barriers to education and employment outcomes. In the state of Minnesota and the nation, there is a big difference in the access that Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) people have to education and employment. The RISE for Youth program creates new pathways for success for Black and underrepresented students by providing critical educational and leadership skills, training, and long-term mentoring for careers in health, science and beyond. The program uses the existing and evidence-based framework of the Reflect Inspire Strengthen Empower (RISE) Program.
The overall goals for the RISE for Youth program are to increase academic skills, provide a multifaceted program of enrichment experiences and opportunities for exploration of health care and the health professions, and to introduce participants to the rigor of academic programs in health professions. It will help build a critical pipeline of diverse leaders and changemakers who will improve the practice of medicine, the potential of science, businesses, and the success of any organization in the community fortunate enough to be their post-graduate destination.
The RISE for Youth program will enroll a cohort model of 40 students from the local community in one of two tracks:
RISE HIGH will engage high school juniors and seniors in a pre-college readiness curriculum designed to enhance opportunities for post-secondary education. (20 students)
RISE UP will provide employment preparation for individuals enrolled in post-secondary education programs. (20 students)
Each group will participate in a program of hands-on classroom training and exploratory activities designed to promote Mayo Clinic career opportunities and educational programs. The professionally designed program curriculum will be dynamic and shaped by student feedback. Program highlights include:
RISE for Youth Program Tracks
-
• Servant leadership
• Emotional intelligence
• Wellness
-
• Ways to give back
• Volunteering
• Mentoring
-
• Test preparation
• Application strategies
• Financial aid process
-
• Trends in health care
• Shadowing experiences
• Mentoring experiences
-
Program Dates, Stipend and Location
Program Dates
RISE UP – June 6 – July 1, 2022
RISE HIGH – July 11 – Aug. 5, 2022
Programs meet from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., Monday through Thursday.
Stipend
Participants will receive a $960 stipend.
Location
Mayo Clinic campus in Rochester.
Eligibility and Criteria
The program will be open to students from groups that have been traditionally underrepresented in medicine and biomedical science, including Black/African American, African Immigrant, Hispanic, Native American / American Indian and Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander students. Additionally, students who have demonstrated an interest in supporting diversity, equity and inclusion in education, health care or another related area are eligible to participate.
To be eligible for consideration, students must also:
Attend a public or charter high school in Rochester. (RISE HIGH)
Be a rising junior or senior in high school (RISE HIGH) or college (RISE UP) for the fall 2022 semester.
Be under the age of 21.
Have a GPA of 2.3 or above.
Agree to meet with a mentor on a quarterly basis for up to one year. (RISE UP)
Agree to participate in ongoing follow up once program participation is complete
Provide a letter of recommendation from a person familiar with the student’s educational experience and potential for success in the RISE for Youth Program. Letters will be accepted from current teachers, counselors, coaches, principals, faith leader, community elder, supervisor or employer. For assistance, please contact us.
Commit to providing 10 hours of community service per semester, totaling 20 community service hours in the 2022-2023 academic year. Examples of community service include, but are not limited to:
a. Becoming a mentor for next year’s cohort
b. Joining the Student Advisory Board for the 2022-2023 academic year
c. Volunteering in an area of interest (laboratory medicine, information technology, etc.)
d. Attending a community event sponsored by the NAACP and social justice community partners such as Diversity Council, Barbershop Talk, and others.
The selection process will be wholistic and rely upon information included in the application, essays, and letters of recommendation. NAACP and consortium of organizations will be part of the selection committee including Barbershop Talk, Diversity Council, Somali community, educators and others. Applicants can submit an online application. A completed application packet must be attached and submitted by March 1, 2022.
Participants will be notified of selection results on of before, April 1, 2022.
Submitting your application is easy as 1-2-3!
Using the RISE for Youth Candidate Application Submission Tool below, complete the online and click the “Submit RISE for Youth Application” button below.
Once the application request is received, you will be notified by a RISE for Youth Program representative to complete the essay portion of your application along with instructions on how to submit your essay. This essay can either be in a written or video format. All essays (written or video) will be due by March 1, 2022.
Essay prompt: In an essay of no more than 500-words or video submission of 1-2 minutes in length, tell us how RISE for Youth will help you achieve your goals and/or overcome any challenges that you have faced. Please also explain how you plan to use this program to impact positive change in your community and the lives of others. Please note that essay judging will be primarily based on content, and not grammar or structure.
If you are accepted into the RISE for Youth Program, you will be required to complete all remaining required documentation as designated on the candidate application PDF form.
