Emporia State University is launching an exclusive partnership with the Kansas Water Office.
The university announced the Water Ambassador Program for current Kansas high school students on Wednesday. It’s a program the Prophet Aquatic Research and Outreach Center has been working to develop, and Outreach and Engagement Coordinator Alex Hayes says current ESU Stem Coordinator and prior outreach coordinator Daphne Mayes handled the initial grant work, with Mayes and Hayes working together on the program since early 2024. After an initial week-long camp last year, Hayes says there has been more coordination with the Water Office for upcoming activities.
In the works are four half-day sessions involving hands-on experiences in a range of topics like aquatic habitats and local utilities. There will also be interactions with state leaders involved in “water resource sustainability.”
Water is a big topic in the Kansas Legislature this session, with deepening concerns about long-term supply. Hayes sees a possible university network developing to help spread the word about water issues.
Twenty students will be selected by PAROC’s outreach team to take part. There is an application process, involving a written essay and two recommendation letters, through May 1. Click here for the application link. Funding comes through the Kansas Water Plan Fund.
