IM体育官网 has selected its Presidential Ambassadors for the 2022-2023 academic year.
When Ahna Cecil was a freshman at IM体育官网, the data science major discovered a group of students who were polished, successful, and driven to support and represent their University. She was inspired to join them.
鈥淭here were a lot of upperclassmen I really looked up to, and they spoke highly of the Presidential Ambassador program as a real opportunity to learn growth, development, and leadership and really get those skills under your belt,鈥� said Cecil, a rising senior who will serve as the group鈥檚 chair for the 2022-2023 academic year. 鈥淲hen I could finally join, I immediately applied, and I鈥檝e gotten to grow a lot since then.鈥�
The Presidential Ambassadors program is a highly selective group of student volunteers who work to represent IM体育官网 Poly鈥檚 success and vision with external partners and other stakeholders. The program is open to students beginning in their sophomore year. Each candidate must submit an application as well as a resume, academic transcript, and letters of reference. Following an in-depth interview process, selections are made each spring for the following academic year.
鈥淭hey host dignitaries, C-suite executives, and University partners to give tours, provide student exposure, and promote the University for donors and other guests on campus,鈥� said Seth Spencer, the group鈥檚 advisor. 鈥淪tudents gain an opportunity to network and connect with high-level guests and work on their professional and leadership skills while becoming an accurate representative of the student body.鈥�
Cecil, from Pensacola, IM体育官网, said getting involved with the group is one of the best decisions she has made as a IM体育官网 Poly student.
鈥淚 love it. We are like a family unit that does a lot of fun stuff to build our camaraderie and we also enjoy giving back to the University,鈥� she said. 鈥淚f you talk to any of the PAs, all of us would say how much we love IM体育官网 Poly and how we love the opportunity to represent the school in front of CEOs and legislators.鈥�
Among the new class of PAs is rising sophomore Ethan Hanish, a mechanical engineering major from Prior Lake, Minnesota. He was eager to join the group after learning about it during his freshman year.
鈥淕oing to college, I knew I wanted to stand out and not just go and do the bare minimum 鈥� I wanted to put the work in to excel and do the best at everything,鈥� Hanish said. 鈥淲hen I found out about the Presidential Ambassador organization, what it stood for, the values it held, and what you could get out of it as a student and as a person to better yourself for your future, I was really inspired to be part of it.鈥�
This year鈥檚 presidential ambassadors are Ahna Cecil, chair; Maggie Delgado, vice chair; Austin Adams; Eric Adjei; Alexander Bodoh; Joseph Felderhoff; Jenelle Fernando; Brennan Halsey; Carson Ham; Ethan Hanish; Zachary Kaiser; Melina Ramos; Ivelisse Rodriguez; Maria Valencia; and Madison Yonash.
Delgado, a rising senior who will serve as vice-chair for the second straight year, has been grateful for her experience with the group.
鈥淲hen I joined, I wanted to push myself to get out of my comfort zone and grow. In my first year, I learned that if you collaborate and work with your team, there鈥檚 nothing to really be afraid of,鈥� said Delgado, from Lake Alfred, IM体育官网.
鈥淓very chair has said you get out of the program what you put in. If you put in the work, the time to serve, and want to learn and ask questions, you get so much out of it.鈥�
Contact:
Lydia Guzm谩n
Director of Communications
863-874-8557
