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Be an MC for S&T

Use your voice to inspire the next class of Miners!

The Miner Champions (MC) outreach and recruitment initiative is an opportunity for current students to share their unique S&T experience with prospective students. MCs travel to high school classrooms, community fairs, and other events to spread the word about Missouri S&T, plant seeds of curiosity in an academic area, and gain valuable communication skills during the process. 

Participation Levels

High School Classroom Visit

  • Conduct a fun, hands-on activity or demonstration that illustrates a fundamental concept. Some academic Departments already have a demo or activity developed or a new one may be developed based on a student’s interest. 
  • Share the S&T student experience, answer questions, and leave brochures and literature
  • A minimum of 2 students is required
  • Incentive: $300 per visit, not per student

Events & Competitions

  • Engage with prospective students, parents, educators, and other community members at designated events, fairs, and other special days
  • Sign-up to mentor, judge, or otherwise get involved with a competitive high school event
  • A minimum of 2 students may be required
  • Incentive: $200 - $300 per outreach opportunity. The incentive amount will be divided among all participants for any outreach opportunity that requires multiple students. 

Admissions Bag Delivery

  • Deliver Admissions materials to designated high schools.
  • Wear S&T gear, engage with high school leadership, and leave brochures and literature about the University. 
  • Incentive: $50 per student

What S&T students are saying about high school visits...

Students were impressed with the opportunities I've had as an S&T student (conferences, meeting cool alumni, internships). They also liked the sticker sheets ...

Received a lot of questions about [my demo] that led to discussions on how I developed it ... I led my demo with a story of how [it] started and the steps I had to go through to finish and how I got to S&T.

I feel like we were able to share a lot of the benefits of S&T to a large and broad crowd of students.

The students were engaged and asked some really good questions.

Get Involved!

  • Step 1
  • Step 2
  • Step 3

Step 1

  • Read the FAQs below to gain a better understanding of the program.

  • Complete the MC Interest Form. You will then receive an automated email invitation to join the MC TEAMS.

Step 2

  • Complete the required training modules for the appropriate participation level. Search the S&T Course Catalog for the Canvas course, Miner Champions Training.
  • All training details are explained in the MC TEAMS. 

Step 3

  • For classroom visits, collaborate with peers to develop a cool demo or activity. Some Departments may already have an outreach activity/demo, so you would just need to receive training.
  • Leverage your network to encourage your high school to make an outreach request! 
  • Be on the lookout for upcoming outreach and recruitment opportunities posted in the MC TEAMS. 

What high school teachers are saying about classroom visits...

The students who visited did an excellent job presenting and answering all the questions ... it was valuable for our students to hear how the work they're doing now connects directly to college courses and real-world concepts.

—Farmington High School

This was an excellent opportunity for our students! We learned a lot and it was very relevant information. Thank you for taking the time to visit us.

—Robinson High School (IL)

Students did so well. They were very relatable. I was so happy to see an alum ...

—Hazelwood West High School

FAQs

Who can participate in the MC program?

MC is open to all current S&T students and alumni. The only requirement is the successful completion of appropriate training modules as well as a sincere interest in outreach and recruitment.

What is the time commitment for MC?

Students' classes, extracurriculars, and other campus obligations are paramount. High school classroom visits will largely be scheduled for the S&T breaks or possibly on a day when the students have no classes. Where feasible, virtual meeting tools will be used for any event, mentorship, or other similar type of engagement. All training modules will take no longer than 1 hour to complete. The largest amount of time may come from the development of a new demo or activity, but the MC TEAMS is a great tool for teamwork and collaboration. 

I would like to participate, but my communication skills are poor. What should I do?

You should maintain a growth mindset to focus on improving your communication skills! The MC program will allow you to build and practice those communication skills that will help you in the future. One of the training modules will focus on good communication strategies that you can add to your toolbox. 

I am not a CEC student. Can I still participate in MC? 

Of course! MC is open to all students who have an interest in outreach and recruitment regardless of major. In fact, a broader range of skills, knowledge, and interests are essential for impacting the maximum number of prospective students. All perspectives and experiences matter, so think about how you can share your S&T story with high school students. 

Why do I have to complete training?

There are several reasons. First, your previous outreach and recruitment experience is most likely limited. The training modules will explain best practices while engaging with prospective students and which practices to avoid. Second, we want you to feel confident in completing your task so that you can achieve optimal performance. Even if you have some prior experience, the trainings will equip you for future outreach and recruitment opportunities. Lastly, the trainings are the best way to ensure that a clear and consistent message is communicated to prospective students. The goal is to represent S&T in the best possible way.  

Can I still participate in MC if I do not complete the required training?

No.

Where do I find the trainings?  

Search the S&T course catalog for a Canvas course called Miner Champions. Each level of participation has a prerequisite number of trainings. All training details are explained in the MC TEAMS. 

What are the training modules?

The training modules focus on best outreach practices when engaging with prospective students, communication skills, and basic classroom management strategies. If you are doing any type of demo or activity (classroom visit, tabling, etc.), then you would also need to be trained on how to implement it. There is probably a plan already in place for an existing outreach demo or activity, but one would need to be established for a new one. The MC TEAMS will be used to coordinate all logistics of the activity/demo. 

Can I participate in multiple levels?

Yes! For example, you may be asked to deliver Admissions materials on the way to/from a classroom visit. The only restriction would be your availability to fully participate in another chosen level. Additionally, you can always choose to support the overall MC program by offering ideas for demos/activities, helping to prepare materials, or just being a positive and productive MC! The MC TEAMS will be the best tool for teamwork and collaboration. 

Are there special requirements to participate in any one level? 

In general, no; however, some outreach and recruitment opportunities are better suited for certain students. For example, one of the components of a classroom visit is the Q&A. A third- or fourth-year student would probably be in a better position to answer questions about the University and share more of the campus experience. Additionally, some outreach requests require a specific background from ROTC or a Design Team, for example. All details of an outreach and recruitment request will be made public in the MC TEAMS. 

Can I participate in MC on behalf of an RSO?

Yes! In fact, RSOs are encouraged to participate as a type of community service project or fundraiser for their organization. Besides the obvious human capital, several RSOs are already formed around a particular interest or skill, so it would be easier to meet any special requirements of an outreach request. 

How do I find out about an outreach and recruitment opportunity?

All outreach and recruitment opportunities will be posted in the MC TEAMS, where the logistics and planning will also be handled. 

Do I have to find my own outreach and recruitment events? 

No. You are not responsible for finding a high school to visit or event to attend. You are encouraged, however, to leverage your network to let your former high school know about the MC program. Any high school official, non-profit group, community member, or other K12 education stakeholder can make a request by submitting the STEM Education Outreach Request form.

If you know of any other schools or events that are not on the current radar, please inform the MC Program Coordinator. 

Do I have to drive my own car if I travel?

Yes. You will need to coordinate any travel logistics on your own. The incentive is meant to help offset any travel costs that you may incur. 

Why do some participation levels require multiple students?

Multiple perspectives matter in outreach and recruitment, so at least 2 students are required for some opportunities. Additionally, the potential pressure of engaging with prospective students is lessened when it is shared among multiple students.......and this type of work is just more fun when you have at least one sidekick!

Can I participate in outreach and recruitment events outside of Missouri?  

Yes, students have traveled to nearby states in the past. Out-of-state opportunities will be considered on an individual basis. 

 

How will I be paid?

All incentive payments will be made through your University accounts in whichever payment method has been previously established (Direct Deposit or Mailed Check). Direct Deposit is highly recommended for fast, secure payments. You may learn how to set up a Direct Deposit here

What is the payment method for an RSO?

An RSO payment is made through a direct transfer into the org account. The RSO's mocode will be needed to make the transfer. 

How long does it take to get paid?

The payments are normally processed within 1-2 weeks, and the actual receipt of funds will depend on your established payment method. 

For questions about the MC program, please contact
Justin Sanders

Program Director for K12 District Engagement