Public Health Scholars Program
Lead. Serve. Achieve. Be a Public Health Scholar.
*Please note: The Public Health Scholars Program is only available to Texas A&M School of Public Health undergraduate and graduate students.
Ready to level up your Aggie experience? The Public Health Scholars Program is your chance to go beyond the classroom and turn your passion for public health into real-world impact. By engaging in hands-on experiences like outreach events, research, leadership, and professional development, you’ll earn points toward a bronze, silver, or gold medallion to showcase your achievement at graduation.
Getting Started
Participating in the Public Health Scholars program is as easy as 1-2-3:
Step 1. Sign Up
- Complete the one-time registration form at tx.ag/newPHSreg
- Pro tip: Use your @TAMU.edu email address – this will be your login for all milestone submissions.
Step 2. Get Involved
- Participate in eligible activities, including – but not limited to:
- Public health outreach (like Disaster Day and Big Event)
- Completing an applied practice experience
- Professional development sessions
- Conferences and research presentations
- Volunteer opportunities
- Completing a Study Abroad
- Student organization membership and leadership
- …and much more!
- For an activity not listed in the undergraduate or graduate milestones to be considered, send an email with details about the event to publichealthpractice@tamu.edu.
- Pro tip: Look for the “Public Health Scholars-eligible Event” seal on print/emailed event flyers.
Step 3. Record Your Progress
- Submit a PHS Milestone Point Request Form with supporting documentation after each event/activity.
- Form can be found at tx.ag/PHSmilestones
- Pro tip: Use the same email address you registered with every time you log a milestone to ensure your points are totaled correctly.
Award Levels
🏅 Gold Medallion: 201+ points
🥈 Silver Medallion: 101–200 points
🥉 Bronze Medallion: 50–100 points
Awardee Notifications
- If you’re graduating this semester, make sure to submit all milestone requests by the deadline - typically 3 to 4 weeks before graduation – to guarantee all points are included in your final total.
- 1–2 weeks before graduation, students who qualify for a medallion will receive an email with details on how to obtain their award.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Public Health Scholars Program?
The Public Health Scholars Program is a recognition and engagement program for undergraduate and graduate students in the Texas A&M School of Public Health. By participating in practice-focused activities like outreach, research, leadership, and professional development, students earn points toward a bronze, silver, or gold medallion to wear at graduation.
Who can participate in the Public Health Scholars Program?
Only students currently enrolled in the Texas A&M School of Public Health - both undergraduate and graduate - are eligible to participate.
Do I have to sign up to participate in the Public Health Scholars Program, or am I automatically a participant just by being a student?
You must complete a one-time registration form at tx.ag/newPHSreg. Be sure to use your @TAMU.edu email address, as it will be used for all milestone submissions.
How do I record my participation in activities?
After each activity, submit a PHS Milestone Point Request Form with supporting documentation at tx.ag/PHSmilestones. Always use the same email address you registered with to ensure accurate point tracking.
What counts as supporting documentation?
You can use a variety of items to verify your involvement in eligible activities. These include, but are not limited to:
- Event sign-in sheets
- Certificates of participation or completion
- Screenshots showing your name/picture in virtual meetings or activities
- A short letter of verification from a supervisor or organizer
- Volunteer logs or timesheets
- Travel itineraries for Education Abroad experiences
- Agendas, programs, or flyers listing you as a presenter, volunteer, or participant
- Pictures of you in action at the event (Hint: these are the most fun to receive!)
What if I participate in an event or activity that is not listed as a milestone? Can it still be considered for points?
Absolutely! Please email an overview of the event with supporting documentation to publichealthpractice@tamu.edu to request consideration for milestone points.
When will I be notified if I qualify for a medallion?
Make sure to submit all milestone requests 3–4 weeks before graduation. Qualified students will receive an email 1–2 weeks before graduation with instructions on how to receive their medallion. To check your current point total, please email publichealthpractice@tamu.edu.
Graduate Milestones
Practice, Service, and Outreach Milestones
| Activity | Points |
|---|---|
| Complete a 684 practicum experience | 10 points |
| Participate in a Service Learning Activity | 10 points per activity |
| Attend the in-person or virtual Career, Practicum, and Internship Fair | 5 points |
| Active Member of SPH affiliated Student Organization | 5 points/ organization/year |
| Hold Officer Position in a SPH affiliated Student Organization | 15 points/ organization/year |
| Participate in Public Health Practice Outreach for SPH | 5 points per activity |
| Organize a Public Outreach Program/Event | 10 points/program |
| Submission of Public Health Week Photo Contest | 5 points/year |
| Win or place at Public Health Week Photo Contest | 20 points/year |
| Volunteer with local public health related agency | 5 points/10 hours of volunteer service |
| Study abroad trip (<50% credit hours) | 15 points |
| Study abroad trip (100% of credit hours) | 20 points |
Research Milestones
| Activity | Points |
|---|---|
| Graduate research as 686 | 10 points/semester |
| Submit to National Public Health Week research poster contest | 5 points/year |
| Win or place at National Public Health Week research poster contest | 20 points/year |
| Present at university research week | 10 points/research week |
| Present at regional or national conference | 20 points/conference |
| Author on a referred journal publication | 30 points/article |
| Named role on submitted research proposal | 10 points (GA,RA,PC) 20 points (PI)/proposal |
| Named role on funded research proposal | 20 points (GA,RA,PC) 30 points (PI)/proposal |
Professional Development Milestones
| Activity | Points |
|---|---|
| Attend SPH Professional Development sessions | 5 points/session |
| Attend professional conference | 5 points/occurrence |
| Participate in PHield Trips | 5 points/activity |
Undergraduate Milestones
Practice, Service, and Outreach Milestones
| Activity | Points |
|---|---|
|
Complete a 484 internship |
20 points |
|
Participate in a Service Learning Activity |
10 points per activity |
|
Active Member of SPH affiliated Student Organization |
5 points/ organization/year |
|
Hold Officer Position in a SPH affiliated Student Organization |
15 points/ organization/year |
|
Participate in Public Health Practice Outreach for SPH |
5 points per activity |
|
Organize a Public Outreach Program/Event |
10 points/program |
|
Submission of Public Health Week Photo Contest |
5 points/year |
|
Win or place at Public Health Week Photo Contest |
20 points/year |
|
Volunteer with local public health related agency |
5 points/10 hours of volunteer service |
|
Study abroad trip (<50% credit hours) |
15 points |
|
Study abroad trip (100% of credit hours) |
20 points |
Research Milestones
| Activity | Points |
|---|---|
|
Undergraduate research as 291 or 491 credit |
10 points/semester |
|
Submit to National Public Health Week research poster contest |
5 points/year |
|
Win or place at National Public Health Week research poster contest |
20 points/year |
|
Present at university research week |
10 points/research week |
|
Present at regional or national conference |
20 points/conference |
|
Author on a referred journal publication |
30 points/article |
|
Publication in Texas A&M University Explorations Journal |
30 points |
|
Named role on submitted research proposal |
10 points (GA,RA,PC) 20 points (PI)/proposal |
|
Named role on funded research proposal |
20 points (GA,RA,PC) 30 points (PI)/proposal |
Professional Development Milestones
| Activity | Points |
|---|---|
|
Attend SPH Professional Development sessions |
5 points/session |
|
Attend professional conference |
5 points/occurrence |
|
Participate in PHield Trips |
5 points/activity |