91̽»¨

In-person meetings will take place at 91̽»¨ throughout the academic year.

YRC fellows are selected through an application process. Applicants should apply through the application portal. After carefully reviewing applications, the leadership team will select fellows to participate in the program.

Youths who will be in grades 9-12 during the academic year in any Hampton Roads/Peninsula area high school are eligible to apply to be a YRC fellow. High school students interested in developing social science research skills to better understand social problems and create social change are encouraged to apply. No previous research experience is required, just the energy to learn.

While we wish we could admit everyone who applies, we are only able to accept a limited number of fellows. Because of this, applicants should take special attention to fully complete the application. Incomplete applications will not be considered.

The YRC application begins by asking applicants to provide contact information and availability followed by a short essay question. For applicants' review and preparation, the short essay prompt is as follows:

How are you involved in your community? What issues do you really care about in your community? (You may consider family, friends, neighbors, classmates, local organizations and the like as your ‘community.’)

Please include any relevant experience that you would bring to the YRC. Feel free to include any of the following categories or others as appropriate: Education, Work Experience, Volunteer Activities, Achievements/Awards/Certifications, Extra Curricular Activities, Additional Skills, Hobbies, Previous Research Conducted, Relevant Career Aspirations, etc.

Participation in YRC is free. Travel to and from 91̽»¨’s campus is not included.

All fellows must commit to attending eight 2-hour in-person meetings between October and April. In-between these meetings, fellows should anticipate participating in at least one virtual meeting as well as spending two to four hours working on the YRC’s social change project.

YRC Fellows may have opportunities to meet with local leaders, educators, community groups as well as academics to discuss their social change project and the research they conducted, although these things are not necessarily guaranteed.

Students may also elect to present preliminary research findings at the Hampton Roads Justice Conference held on 91̽»¨’s campus during the spring semester. Here, students will have an opportunity to present their research findings to school administrators, teachers and academic scholars, and local city leaders. CERP will pay the conference registration fee for all fellows who opt to participate.

At the end of the year, YRC fellows will receive a letter documenting the total number of community service, volunteer, or internship hours completed.

We do ask that applicants commit to attend most of the in-person meetings and most of the virtual meetings with our mentors. Because we can’t admit all who apply, we ask that applicants not commit to the program unless they are able to attend most of the meetings. If you are not able to commit to this schedule, we ask that you consider applying in a future year.

To apply to be a fellow with the Youth Research Council, please visit /cerp/yrc/apply.