UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Penn State Students United Against Poverty (SUAP) — the University-affiliate student organization to the Office of Student Care and Advocacy — is recruiting a new cohort of student ambassadors for the 2023-24 academic year to combat poverty and basic needs insecurity at University Park.
Accepted ambassadors will have access to paid leadership opportunities, professional development and academic experiences within the human development realm. They will be involved in projects and programming that provide support for students facing significant hardship.
To apply, students must submit a written application. Applications are due by 11:59 p.m. on March 14.
If they are advanced, students will complete an interview with SUAP leadership. Accepted students will take part in a thorough orientation process that includes learning about University and community resources, case management training, peer counseling training and introduction to SUAP initiatives and projects.
Students will meet weekly to learn about poverty on the national and local levels through readings, discussions and guest speakers.
New ambassadors will have the choice of joining one of the following committees: Operations, Finance & Development, Communications and Marketing or Government and Community Relations.
The organization was revitalized in the fall 2022. It has since established a Basic Needs Hub, secured $60,000 for anti-poverty projects through the Pennsylvania Hunger-Free Campus Initiative, advocated for the successful implementation of EBT acceptance at Market East and developed programs and initiatives to be executed in 2023-24.
SUAP was founded under the name Project Cahir. It was established in memory of Sergeant Bill Cahir, a State College native and 1990 Penn State graduate killed while building a school for girls in Afghanistan. He lived a life dedicated to civic engagement and duty. After his death, his family created this initiative to honor his commitment to civic duty through students.