Rawlings Cornell Presidential Research Scholars

Call for Applicants: Big Red Table | Peer Facilitator
ABOUT THE PROGRAM
"Big Red Table" is a special dinner series designed to promote connection and belonging among incoming students during New Student Orientation. Facilitated conversations over dinner will allow small groups of students to gather around a table, get to know one another, sharing what brought them to Cornell, and beginning to establish the connections needed to feel at home in their community. Dinners will host up to 100 students, seated in tables of 8-10, across two evenings (August 20 & 22).

FACILITATOR ROLE
Trained peers will be placed at tables to energize discussion, ensure every student feels included, and keep conversation flowing throughout the evening. This is a high-impact, people-centered role with opportunity for significant impact. Peer Facilitators will create the conditions necessary for genuine connection.

RESPONSIBILITIES & TIME COMMITMENT
• Attend 2 hours of required virtual training in August. (Dates TBD)
• Contribute 4 hours of facilitation time by participating in at least two of the four Big Red Table dinners offered on August 20 & 22. (Each dinner is a 90-minute commitment.)
• Facilitate table conversation to spark and sustain conversation using provided prompts.
• Ensure students at your table feel welcomed and included.
• Support a warm, low-pressure atmosphere where students can be themselves.
• Check in with program staff as needed throughout the evening.
• Total Commitment: approximately 6 hours.

QUALIFICATIONS
• Current Cornell undergraduate students (any class year, any program; must be on campus) OR current graduate and professional students who attended Cornell as an undergraduate student.
• Experience and/or genuine interest in fostering belonging and connection for incoming first year or transfer students.
• Comfortable initiating and sustaining conversation in a group setting.
• Ability to "read a room" and adapt strategy, knowing when to step in and when to step back.
• Experience with facilitation, peer mentorship, or community-building is a plus, but not required.

BENEFITS
• You'll play a direct role in shaping how hundreds of new Cornellians experience their very first days on campus.
• Structured training in group facilitation, active listening, and inclusive conversation design.
• Network with peers from across Cornell's colleges and programs.
• Deepen your own sense of belonging
• A low time commitment, high return on investment (~6 hours total).
• Dinner included on each evening you facilitate.
* This is a volunteer position

TO APPLY
Interested students should complete an application (https://cornell.ca1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_cGS3tM0XeY1B8xw), and include a resume and brief statement of interest (of up to 500 words) by Noon on June 17, 2026 (EST).
Contact Taylor Bouraad ([email protected]) with questions.

Good morning, RCPRS alumni!
Will you be in Ithaca for Cornell Reunion 2026 (June 4th-7th)? If so, and if your schedule allows, we’d love to invite you to stop by and say hello at the Commitment Office in 300 Kennedy Hall.
Our office hours are 9:00 a.m.–4:30 p.m., and we know it’s a busy time on campus. Even if you can only pop in briefly for a quick hello (or goodbye!), we’d still be thrilled to see your smiling faces.
Hope to see you soon!

This past Monday, we hosted a rock climbing social for RCPRS members to destress and enjoy time together! Thank you all for coming, and we look forward to more events like this in the future. Comment ideas for our next social below 😋

Researchers and rock climbing!
Rawlings Scholars took a well-earned break from the busy semester to scale new heights at a rock climbing social.

Share your Summer Experiences ☀️📚
We want to hear all about your summer experiences! Whether you are planning an internship, a job, summer classes, travel, or something completely unique, we encourage you to share your journey with us. Please take a moment to fill out the Summer Experience Survey: https://nam12.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcornell.12twenty.com%2Fdashboard&data=05%7C02%7Cjj87%40cornell.edu%7C11601d0cdf1f495d12fe08dea0754241%7C5d7e43661b9b45cf8e79b14b27df46e1%7C0%7C0%7C639124622660243596%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=1De2BfUN2%2BhQUOQC5r08HDbwQJ%2BPQjgSaU545%2BQwdl4%3D&reserved=0 (NetID login required). Career Services https://nam12.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcareer.cornell.edu%2Fresources%2Fschedule%2F&data=05%7C02%7Cjj87%40cornell.edu%7C11601d0cdf1f495d12fe08dea0754241%7C5d7e43661b9b45cf8e79b14b27df46e1%7C0%7C0%7C639124622660262622%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=ZhFK%2Bhb2o%2Fk5M2T%2Fr9aAEGPjBYKvv1vzkO6hxHIUD3Q%3D&reserved= is here to support you.

nam12.safelinks.protection.outlook.com

National Student Employment Week is this WEEK! e hope you’ll join us for a series of fun, feel-good events happening throughout the week: 🌱 Wednesday, 4/15: Stop by and pick up a free plant 🐾 Thursday, 4/16: Relax and recharge with Pet Therapy from the Cornell Companions 🍦 Friday, 4/17: Treat yourself to ice cream from the Dairy Bar

National Student Employment Week is coming up next week, and we’re excited to celebrate you and the incredible work you do every day. We hope you’ll join us for a series of fun, feel-good events happening throughout the week:

🌱 Wednesday, 4/15: Stop by and pick up a free plant
🐾 Thursday, 4/16: Relax and recharge with Pet Therapy from the Cornell Companions
🍦 Friday, 4/17: Treat yourself to ice cream from the Dairy Bar

Thank you for everything you do for your departments and our local community partners. Your contributions truly make a difference, and we couldn’t do this work without you.

National Student Employment Week is coming up next week, and we’re excited to celebrate you and the incredible work you do every day. We hope you’ll join us for a series of fun, feel-good events happening throughout the week:

• 🌱 Wednesday, 4/15: Stop by and pick up a free plant
• 🐾 Thursday, 4/16: Relax and recharge with Pet Therapy from the Cornell Companions
• 🍦 Friday, 4/17: Treat yourself to ice cream from the Dairy Bar

You’ll find the full event lineup below and you’ve been invited on CampusGroups—we’d love to see you there!

Thank you for everything you do for your departments and our local community partners. Your contributions truly make a difference, and we couldn’t do this work without you.

Calling all rising juniors interested in research funding and opportunities! Apply through the link in our bio and DM with questions!!