High School Students are Welcome to Sign up for the EmpowHER Summer Program

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March 31, 2026

Pasco County Emergency Management (Pasco EM) invites high school students to apply to participate in the inaugural EmpowHER program taking place at the Pasco County Emergency Operations Center (EOC) this summer. EmpowHER is a FREE week-long program that gives young women in grades 9-12 the opportunity to explore careers in and adjacent to emergency management. EmpowHER will include multiple sessions and activities with speakers from Emergency Management, Media Relations & Communications, Fire Rescue, Emergency Services (911), Corrections, the Sheriff’s Office, and the Florida Department of Health. Participating students will receive Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) certification upon program completion, and the program will count toward volunteer hours. Pasco EM intends to select 20 students to participate in the 2026 program cycle.

Applications are open: Click here

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Program Schedule

Monday, July 6, 2026: 8:00 AM – 4:00 PM
Tuesday, July 7, 2026: 8:00 AM – 4:00 PM
Wednesday, July 8, 2026: 8:00 AM – 4:00 PM
Thursday, July 9, 2026: 8:00 AM – 4:00 PM
Friday, July 10, 2026: 8:00 AM – 4:00 PM

Breakfast and lunch will not be provided.

Eligibility:

The program is open to young women in grades 9-12 who will be enrolled in a Pasco County High School in August 2026 (i.e., incoming 9th-grade students are welcome to apply).

How to Apply: Interested students should submit this application along with an attached response to one of the three proposed essay questions. If the student is under 18 years of age, a parental/legal guardian signature is required.

Applications are open: Click here