Honors News and Updates: January 25, 2024
Join the Honors Ambassadors!
What’s New this Week?
We’ve got some huge news in SF Honors! In partnership with PTK, this week sees the launch of the SF Honors Ambassador Program. This exciting opportunity connects current Honors students with new and prospective SF students to help them learn about, apply to, and be successful in our Honors Program. In addition to spreading the word about our community, Ambassadors will also help other students learn about unique ways to stay engaged and earn points, as well as make progress toward their next Honors credential, and generally make the most out of their time at SF. If you’re interested in learning more about the program or applying to be an Honors Ambassador, take a look below.
In this Issue
This Week in Honors:
Become an Honors Ambassador!
30 Honors Points per semester
We are so excited to share with you about a project we’ve been working on for a really long time. Thanks to the efforts of the PTK College Project Team, we can finally launch the Honors Ambassador program. Honors Ambassadors help fellow students learn about the exciting opportunities available through SF’s Honors Program. Ambassadors will take part in recruitment, orientation, and other events to connect potential and new students with Honors Program resources. We’ll also conduct outreach through collegewide efforts, at state and regional events, in local schools to connect with students who might not even know that SF has an incredible community of Honors students and instructors. Applications are open to any current Honors student in good standing. The selection process will involve completion of the application as well as an interview.
Are you excited to be in the Honors Program at SF? Do you want to help other people learn how to have experiences as awesome as yours? Do you want to work with fellow SF Honors students and faculty to make this program even better? Click the link below to apply now!
Applications close February 2 at 4:30pm
Join Phi Theta Kappa Honors Society: Meetings on Thursdays at 4pm
5 Honors Points for Joining PTK
If you're interested in seeing what SF PTK is all about for yourself, we will be having our weekly meeting on Thursday at 4pm in P-160 on Northwest Campus and on Zoom (meeting room is pending). I welcome you to join, see what's on the agenda, and ask questions! I'm always looking for more things to bring to the Santa Fe community and to our members, so if you have any ideas for things, you'd like to see us do, please let me know!
Zoom link: https://sfcollege.zoom.us/j/97225353279
Join the SF PTK GroupMe:Â
I’ve created a community GroupMe for members to ask questions, collaborate, and keep up to date on events and meetings. This is great if you're waiting to be accepted into PTK and want to stay up to date. (This chat is also discoverable under the Santa Fe group!)
Click here to join: https://groupme.com/join_group/96906566/PhKjIE9Y
Questions? Speak with Professor Keith or contact Mikayla Stesney, President of SF PTK, at mikayla.stesney@sfcollege.edu
Santa Fe News and Events
Register For Mental Health First Aid Training!
10 Honors points for training completion
This is a great opportunity for students to understand how to help the community, including other students, staff members, visitors, and family members who could be going through a hard time. The training will cover mental-health topics such as addiction, anxiety, depression, and psychosis, which will contribute to campus safety and service excellence as students will be qualified to intervene and make adequate referrals when necessary.Â
Location: Building S, Rooms 29/30 (lunch will be provided)
Hours of Involvement: January 26, 8:30 am - 4:30 pmÂ
Registration link: Here
For more information, contact: brian.stanton@sfcollege.edu
Pizza With Professors!
This is the perfect time to hang out with your professors and get to know them better while enjoying your free pizza. Open to all students who are willing to participate!
Location: Oak Grove
Hours of Involvement: Tuesday, January 30, 11 am - 2pm Â
Santa Fe League of Women Voters!
5 Honors Points for joining student organizations
Academic Opportunities
2024 Future of Florida Summit: A Convergence of Minds on AI Policy
15 Honors points for participating in event
The Bob Graham Center for Public Service at the University of Florida proudly hosts the 2024 Future of Florida Summit, the state's largest student-led public policy conference. This year's focus is on the evolving realm of Artificial Intelligence, with discussions centered around its impact on education, healthcare, agriculture, and law.
Scheduled from March 1-3, 2024, at the University of Florida campus, this summit offers a pre-event online policy preparation session on February 25. It's an extraordinary opportunity for 70 student leaders from across Florida to engage in meaningful dialogue with state leaders and professionals, gaining insights that extend far beyond the classroom.
Applications for this pivotal event are due by January 13, 2024, with a confirmation of attendance required by January 26. The summit welcomes students from all majors and levels, including graduate students, from any Florida college or university. Attendees from outside Alachua County will be provided hotel accommodations, and meals are covered for all participants.
Don't miss this chance to be part of shaping Florida's policy landscape in the age of AI. For more information and to apply, visit the summit's website. Questions can be directed to FOF-GrahamCenter@ufl.edu or by calling (352) 846-1575.
Explore the Path to Scientific Excellence with the SF2UF Bridge Program
Are you ready to broaden your academic horizons in the biomedical or behavioral sciences? The SF2UF Bridge to the Baccalaureate program invites applications for its 2024 cohort. This unique initiative not only fosters your educational growth but also offers hands-on research opportunities at the University of Florida – all while you continue your studies at Santa Fe.
Dedicated to supporting students from underrepresented groups, the program provides an enriching environment for both professional and personal development in the scientific community. To see if you meet the eligibility criteria and to apply, visit our program page here. Don’t miss this chance to be part of a journey that shapes future scientists and innovators.
Small Bites Nutrition Workshops
Small Bites Nutrition Workshops is a student-led organization partnered with UF Gators for Gainsville, The Pattycake Foundation, and UF’s Food Science and Human Nutrition Club, to provide students with the opportunity to learn more about nutrition while working with kids and encouraging others on the benefits of following a healthier lifestyle. If you enjoy cooking, this is the perfect opportunity for you, since you will get to bring awareness to the importance of nutrition and be involved in cook workshops at local Gainsville elementary schools.
Offers: Biweekly/ monthly volunteering to lead our simple & pre-planned workshops. Volunteers will complete a 30-45 min nutrition lesson plan with the students and conclude with a simple recipe.Â
Location: Carolyn Beatrice Parker Elementary School, 1912 NW 5th Ave, Gainesville, FL 32603
When: Begins February 2024
How to Volunteer:
Fill out the Availability Google Form Â
Complete an Alachua County Background Check (if haven't filled it out after June 30th 2023)
--> Use these Instructions for help completing
Join the GroupMeÂ
Attend the Volunteer Orientation on February 1st, 2024 6:00-6:30 PM at Marston Science Library Rm. L136
Bring a form of ID to 1st visit
Contact Information: Instagram: @smallbitesnutrition
Small Bites Nutrition Website
USM School of Polymer Science and Engineering REU!
If you are a rising sophomore, junior or senior looking to complete an REU this summer applications for USM’s School of Polymer Science and Engineering REU program close on February 1st, 2024!
Cultural, Community, and Career Opportunities
Write Yourself into the Art Museum!
Words on Canvas is an annual art writing competition at the Harn Museum of Art for University of Florida and Santa Fe College students.  We invite you to engage museumgoers with your poetry or prose inspired by art at the museum. This year, students can choose from 27 artworks covering each of the Harn’s collecting areas on view throughout the museum. We also have a special theme focused on walking (embracing all forms of inclusive personal mobility and imaginative approaches), so we are calling the 2024 competition Walks on Canvas!
Writers of winning entries will be awarded fun prizes and will have the opportunity to read their entry in front of their artwork at the Harn's Museum. Their essay/poem will be printed in a brochure to be given to them and shared with audiences; and will be featured on the innovative Walking Station which dispenses stories at the push of a button.
Students may submit until midnight, February 25, 2024.
For complete details – including a list of artworks, see the Words on Canvas website at
https://harn.ufl.edu/programs/university-students/words-on-canvas/ Â
Embrace your Artistic Side Through Experiences Offered by the Harn Museum of Art!
5 Honors points for attending each event
Art Cart: Participate in the various art activities offered by the Art Cart experience that will be based on objects on view and inspired by the Harn Museum of Art’s collection, including tactile opportunities, games, and more for participants of all ages.
Location: Harn Museum of Art, 3259 Hull Road, Gainesville, FL 32608
Date & Time: Thursday, January 25, 3:00-5:00 pm
Contact Information: tours@harn.ufl.edu
Digital Humanities, AI, Literacy, & the Historical Profession
5 Honors points for attending event
Name, Image, and Blackness: Race and College Football:
5 Honors points for attending event
The UF Center for Humanities in the Public Sphere presents an interactive presentation by Dr. Leonard N. Moore that focuses on racial dynamics of college football in the South after some changes, including the NIL, transfer portal, conference realignment, 2023 U.S. Supreme Court outlawing affirmative action in college admissions, and anti-DEI legislation.Â
Information about Leonard N. Moore: George Littlefield Professor of American History & former vice president at the University of Texas at Austin. Authored four books on black politics: Carl B. Stokes and the Rise of Black Political Power, Black Rage in New Orleans, The Defeat of Black Power, and Teaching Black History to White People.Â
Location: Smathers Library 100
Date: February 15, 4:00 pm
For more information, contact: humanities-center@ufl.edu
Check out the SF Civic Engagement and Service!
1 Honors Point per service hour
The Santa Fe Civic Engagement and Service (CES) provides students with the opportunity to engage with more than 200 local agencies that are looking for volunteers. In addition, CES is manages group service projects throughout the semester both on and off campus, so if you are occupied with your courses this semester you will still have the opportunity to volunteer and earn Honors points. To stay updated about the group projects offered by the CES, you can subscribe using your email, or visit Building S, Room 135.Â
Also, towards the end of the academic year, students that gather the most volunteer hours will receive a Civic Engagement and Service Award, which will be solely based on the students’ involvement, including participation in CES events, individual service, and group projects. Make sure to report volunteer hours to the CES Specialist if you want to receive this award!
Contact for more information: sarah.blanc@sfcollege.edu
Repurpose Project
Friday, February 9, 10 a.m. – 12 p.m.
The Repurpose Project is a non-profit community-based effort to divert useful resources from landfills, redirecting these items to the public for art and education to inspire creativity, and help us all rethink what we throw away. Volunteers will assist with processing and organizing donations.
Location: 1920 NE 23rd Ave, Gainesville, FL 32609
Hours of Involvement: Friday, February 23, 9 a.m. – 1 p.m.
For more Information: https://www.repurposeproject.org/
Contact: info@RepurposeProject.org / (352)363-8902
Pre-Professional Opportunities
STEM
Apply for TECBio REU at the University of Pittsburgh this Summer
30 Honors points for attending TECBio REU
We are pleased to announce the 15th summer for our REU program in computational biology! More information and our 2024 program flyer can be found at our website – tecbioreu.pitt.edu, which also has the link the application website.  Â
Application Deadline:Â February 12, 2024Â
Program Dates: May 20 – July 26, 2024Â
Student Support:Â $6250 stipend, housing*, travel*, and VR equipmentÂ
Pre-Health
Registration for the Medi-Gators Virtual Shadowing Program is now Open
(Virtual Shadowing earns 5 CHEs for each virtual experience or 30 CHEs for the Medi-Gator Certificate.)
This semester, participants have the opportunity to shadow 40 healthcare professionals within a wide-array of health careers and specialties (including veterinary medicine) via zoom, meaning you can earn up to 40 virtual shadowing hours and a certificate, as well as potential opportunities for mentorship, research, in-person shadowing, and more. Registration closes on Thursday, February 15th at 11:59 PM, but Virtual shadowing begins on Monday, February 19th.
If you have any questions or if you'd like to learn more, please visit our website or email medigators@health.ufl.edu.
UF First Responder Gator Registering for Spring 2024
50 Honors Points for completion of course
Are you on a pre-health track &Â interested in emergency medicine? Take First Responder Gator! Our 40-hour extracurricular course is a fantastic way to learn new skills and become prepared to help others in an emergency! Our class will be offered this spring from January 23rd to April 9th. Registration is open until January 30th.Â
First Responder Gator has both a lab and lecture component. Lectures are once a week on Wednesdays from 5:30pm - 7:30pm and are taught by Gainesville Fire Rescue firefighter and paramedic Chief David Sutton. Labs are once a week from 6:00pm - 8:00pm with the option to choose Tuesdays or Thursdays where you will learn hands-on skills like CPR, bleeding control, and more! Classes are held on the UF campus, but you do not have to be a UF student to register!
Class registration links:Â
Registering for a lab automatically registers you for the Wednesday lectures. If you have any questions or want to learn more about the class, reach out to us at contact@frgator.com and check out our website, https://frgator.com/
UF Summer Health Professions Education Program (SHPEP) Applications Open
30 Honors Points for Program Completion
SHPEP, a national program funded by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, is a free six-week academic enrichment program for freshman and sophomore students from across the country who have an interest in pursuing a career in the health professions. In addition to academic enrichment relevant to pre-health subjects, students will also gain clinical exposure, skill labs, career development, and interprofessional education experience.Â
UF SHPEP 2024 will take place from May 13th – June 21st, 2024. During the first two weeks of the program, all events, workshops, and instruction will be held virtually. All programming during the remaining four weeks will take place in-person on the University of Florida campus in Gainesville, FL, during which participants will be provided on-campus housing, meals, and a $1000 stipend.
The application for the 2024 cohort is currently OPEN and will close on February 5th, 2024 at 11:59pm (EST).  Applications are available at the national Summer Health Professions Education Program website. Admissions decisions will be released on March 15th, 2024.
Additional information can be found on the UF SHPEP website at https://ufhealth.org/ufshpep or the national program website at http://www.shpep.org/
Business
UF College of Business
UF Business Administration Walk-In Advising
This is the perfect opportunity for Business majors who want to meet with the UF Transfer advisor(s) from the Heavener School of Business.
Location: UF@SF Center, HA-108, across the hall from HA-132, Northwest Campus
Hours of Operation: Tuesday (January 23, 9:30-11:30 am), Tuesday (February 20, 1:30-3:30 pm), Wednesday (March 20, 1:30-3:30 pm)
More Information About the Major: http://warrington.ufl.edu/undergraduate/
Contact Information: Olivia.Steingraber@sfcollege.edu or 352-381-7136
Pre-Law
UF College of Journalism and Communications
UF College of Journalism and Communications Walk-In Advising
This is the perfect opportunity for Journalism and Communication majors who want to meet with the UF Transfer advisor, Judy Hunter, from the College of Journalism and Communications.
Location: UF@SF Center, HA-132, Northwest Campus
Hours of Operation: Tuesday (January 23, 1:30-3:30 pm), Wednesday (March 27, 1:30-3:30 pm), Wednesday (April 24, 1:30-3:30 pm)
More Information About the Major: https://www.jou.ufl.edu/undergraduate-academics-main/. Â
Transfer Requirements: https://www.jou.ufl.edu/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/Transfer-Admissions_2023.pdf Â
Contact Information: Olivia.Steingraber@sfcollege.edu or 352-381-7136. Â
Have an event, opportunity, or announcement you’d like to highlight? Get in touch and let us know so that we can include it in the next Honors Newsletter.