Have you ever wondered, “Who are those people wearing red polos and giving campus tours everyday? Why are high schoolers on campus every once in a while for a weekend?” Or maybe you’ve thought, “How do people even hear about Southern Utah University?”
SUU’s presidential ambassadors are the people who make it all happen. An ambassador’s main duties are to give tours to prospective students, visit high schools to help with the application process and recruitment and plan Red Riot weekends for high school juniors and seniors. The ambassador program provides plenty of opportunities to learn and grow, with the added benefit of a half-tuition scholarship.
Process of becoming an ambassador
There are two rounds to the ambassador interview process. The application opens in October and is only open to high school seniors. Applicants that live within a reasonable driving distance will come to SUU’s campus for an in-person interview, while those who live far away turn in a short video showcasing their leadership skills and passion for the university.
Those who make it to the second round will then come to campus for a weekend, during which a group presentation and a second individual interview will take place. The group presentation consists of 6-8 participants who are given a topic and case study to present on. Select staff from the Welcome Center at SUU will be present at the group presentation and interview.
“The interview process for becoming an ambassador is long; however, it challenged me, and I was so excited to find out that I would be becoming an ambassador,” said freshman Jaxon Wright. “This team truly has the best people around the state, and I could not be more proud to be an ambassador.”
Campus tours
Tours are given every weekday at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. This is where each ambassador can connect with prospective students and show them around SUU’s campus. Ambassadors tend to highlight the newest buildings, such as Bristlecone Hall and the Dixie Leavitt Business Building, as well as the America First Event Center, the various floors of the library, Old Main, and the Carter Carillon Bell Tower.
“Giving tours is special because every single one is different,” noted ambassador and communication major Hallie Erickson. “Every high school student has different interests and needs, and learning how to adapt to those differences is a very rewarding process. Knowing that you can help a student find a place is so important.”
Making connections with each student is something that each ambassador prioritizes on their tours. This helps the prospective T-Bird feel at home on campus and encourages them to ask more in-depth and personal questions about college life.
One such student, Joslyn Hughes, said after the tour, “Our tour guide was so nice and easy to talk to. She showed us a lot of different places on campus. She did a great job telling us that SUU is a great school!”
High school visits
Visiting high schools is another thing that each ambassador must take part in each semester. They must go on at least three visits: two in their hometown’s region and one elsewhere. This creates opportunities for students all around Utah to hear about SUU from current T-Birds.
The ambassadors play a huge role with applications, as they travel to many high schools across Utah and surrounding states.
For instance, ambassadors help during the fall semester’s Utah College Application Week, where high school seniors can apply to universities around the state for free. Ambassadors guide students through this process and answer any questions students may have.
Brie Valentine, the southern Utah regional, said, “Utah college application week is a statewide event to promote applying to higher education. Ambassadors are many times the first interaction a prospective student has with SUU, and at UCAW, ambassadors are there to get students excited for SUU even if they are unsure about what to study.”
Red Riots
Red Riots are the biggest events that ambassadors take on. Utah high school juniors and seniors, as well as those from bordering states, come to SUU on a Friday to dip their toes into college life for a weekend. The experience consists of a campus tour, dinner, activities and a dance.
“I love Red Riots because of how much life and fun the students bring. Even before they get on campus, you can feel all the energy,” ambassador Easton White said. “I connect with my students by showing them that I am their friend and not just a host.”
The ambassadors host the students at their own apartments or dorms, which creates a fun environment where high schoolers truly feel like they are in college.
Mimi Johnson, a Red Riot participant, said, “We got to stay at one of the ambassador’s homes and see what it’s really like to be living on your own. It was so fun and really felt like a college experience.”
Additional information
Presidential Ambassador advisor Christopher Olsen believes in what the program can do for its participants. He stated, “The opportunities that students can find and the goals that they can achieve as Presidential Ambassadors will help them develop skills and habits that will aid them here at school and in their life after.”
To find out more information about the ambassador program, contact Olsen or stop by the Welcome Center.
Author: Natalie Anderson
Photos courtesy of Caitlin Buhler, Lukas Hassell, and Shaylee Lamoreaux
Editor: Kale Nelson
eic@suunews.net
This article was originally published in the March 2024 edition of the University Journal.
