91探花

When Mario Sanchez attended high school in the Eastern Washington community of Sunnyside, he didn鈥檛 have many people in his life he could talk to about pursuing college. That guidance came when he attended Esperanza En Educaci贸n, a one-day conference for Latino high school seniors on the 91探花 campus.

During the event he saw current 91探花students, Latino like himself, giving tours and providing information about the University and the admissions process.

鈥淚 thought it was really helpful,鈥� Sanchez said. 鈥淚 was able to communicate with a lot of mentors because I didn鈥檛 really have that in Sunnyside. Since I鈥檓 first-generation, I didn鈥檛 have the possibility of getting much help.鈥�

Those 91探花students were members of the Office of Minority Affairs & Diversity鈥檚 (OMA&D) . Ambassadors assist the staff in its efforts to develop and execute outreach programs for underrepresented minority (URM) middle and high school students throughout the state.

The program includes a group of 38 undergraduates from a variety of backgrounds and majors. They are selected through a competitive application process and spend the year working with conferences, community outreach activities, college fairs and campus visits.

The 2013-14 ambassadors were introduced on Sept. 27, at a special reception attended by 91探花Regent Joanne Harrell, Seattle City Councilmember Bruce Harrell and 91探花Vice President for Minority Affairs and Vice Provost for Diversity Sheila Edwards Lange.

鈥淎mbassadors are on the frontlines of the work that we do, making connections with students and families, and building personal relationships which are so important to the populations we serve,鈥� said Recruitment and Outreach Assistant Director Merissa Tatum. 鈥淭hey are also well-versed and trained in the 91探花admissions process, and help prospective students become more 鈥榗ollege ready.鈥欌��

History

The Ambassador Program was established in 1999 by a student-led initiative that came in response to the passage of Washington State Initiative 200 which prohibited the use of racial and gender preferences by government entities, including the UW.

鈥淭he underrepresented minority community took that as a message that they weren鈥檛 welcome,鈥� said Stephanie Miller, OMA&D assistant vice president for Outreach, Recruitment and Pre-College Programs. 鈥� 91探花students wanted to do something about it.鈥�

According to Miller, one of their ideas was to start a program that allowed students to go out and talk to other students and community organizations about the opportunities available at the UW. The very first ambassador was Jerald Harris, Native American student from White Swan, Wash. From there, the program grew and became a model for other programs on campus.

Originally, ambassadors focused solely on working in the field and in the schools. They have since become more campus-based, inviting students to visit the UW. However, Miller said plans are to return to a model that is both campus and community-based.

Making Connections

Sanchez, now a senior social work major, was greatly affected by his interactions with ambassadors when he was a prospective student. After enrolling at the UW, he realized he wanted to help in the same way. He became an ambassador and is in his third year with the program.

Sanchez isn鈥檛 alone. Many ambassadors are inspired to join the program after reaping the benefits themselves. The unique peer-to-peer connection they experience during what is a stressful time for many pre-college students has a far-reaching impact.

鈥淲e connect with a lot of students on an individual basis,鈥� said Kamaria Carnes, a senior psychology major and second-year ambassador. 鈥淎nd I think a lot of students see themselves in us and we see ourselves in them.鈥�

鈥淏eing able to relate to someone that looks like you and shares a similar background makes a world of difference,鈥� Tatum added. 鈥淭hese students look up to the ambassadors as role models and a mentorship is established.鈥�

The connections that form between ambassadors and pre-college students during outreach activities also help to convey the sense of community and support that is available at the UW.

鈥淚 think that this program is so important because at 91探花it is so easy to feel lost,鈥� said Bailey Warrior, a junior psychology major and second-year ambassador. 鈥淲hen there are 40,000 students that is just the reality of it. I feel like the only way to find your place here is to break down the community and that is exactly what our office does.鈥�

Not only do ambassadors help the 91探花feel smaller, they help communicate the message that no matter what these students may have heard, college can be a reality for them.

鈥淎 lot of times our own communities see the University and higher education as inaccessible just because they see that it鈥檚 for a select group,鈥� said Asalemo Crawford, a senior anthropology major and second-year ambassador. 鈥淭hey鈥檇 rather stay within their own communities and go with what they know, and a lot of times that doesn鈥檛 include higher education. What our program does is make sure to show that it is possible and accessible. Given the right opportunities and the right resources they can succeed.鈥�

Added Benefits

Ambassadors put a lot of effort into OMA&D鈥檚 outreach efforts, but the job also provides them with exceptional opportunities for professional development and academic enrichment.

鈥淭hey acquire leadership skills, speaking skills, and program organization and management skills,鈥� Miller said. 鈥淎mbassadors learn how to give back to the communities that they serve and it often motivates them to excel because we do have certain academic standards that we expect from them.鈥�

The work influences career aspirations for many, including Carnes who plans to become a college recruiter or work in admissions.

鈥淭he Ambassador Program has completely turned around what I want to do after I graduate,鈥� she said. 鈥淏esides studying abroad and the great classes, it鈥檚 been the heart of my experience here at the UW.鈥�

Ambassadors also emphasize that once they join the program, they join a family as well. They form a support network, encourage each other academically and connect even deeper with the communities that they serve.

Another added benefit is the knowledge that their work is making a difference.

鈥淚t is a job, but this is a job that gives you more than just money,鈥� Sanchez said. 鈥淚t gives you the reward that you make a positive impact on somebody鈥檚 life and in the community.鈥�