Tell us about your organization:
Lion ambassadors is one of the first university alumni student braches in the Unites States. Penn State saw the need for a Student Alumni Corps, and in 1982, the first class was inducted. Since then, Lion Ambassadors has fulfilled the goals of promoting pride and the mission of Penn State. We are active on campus, walking backwards giving tours to prospective students and alumni. We also plan campus projects and are responsible for the S-Zone in beaver stadium.
Why do you think your organization is important and meaningful on campus?
I think an organization like Lion Ambassadors is an import place for student leaders to be able to engage with each other and promote Penn State – the place that brought them all together. What makes Lion Ambassadors unique is unlike other organizations, the ability to interpret what Lion Ambassadors is creates plenty of room for different gifts and talents. We are able to utilize everyone’s diverse backgrounds, experiences, and skills in our organization to achieve our mission.
How did you decide to take on your role as President of Lion Ambassadors?
Last year, I was on the executive board, and I felt really passionate about the org. I decided to run for President and was elected at the end of last semester. The President is responsible for recruitment as well as the overall internal health of the organization, and those were the two areas of this organization I felt I could best support. I also felt like my skillset of building bridges and making connections was important in our goal of forming campus partnerships in the future.
How does your work with Lion Ambassadors give you the opportunity to use your gifts and passions?
I love meeting new people. I think that being able to give tours and promote Penn State is an awesome responsibility. It was my Penn State tour guide that was able to convince me that Penn State was for me, despite touring on a day that was pouring rain. It’s also been really cool to meet some of the benefactors of Penn State and build personal connections that a lot of students don’t get the opportunity to make. I’ve given tours to people like the CEO of EY, the owner of the Atlanta Falcons, and many other notable alumni.
Why do you think your organization makes a difference in this world?
Despite being a student organization full of volunteers, I think that Lion Ambassadors make a real and tangible impact on this community. The donors we serve, the prospective students that we’ve shown Penn State to, and anyone who interacts with one of our events gets to feel a sense of community and belonging. At the end of the day, Lion Ambassadors are just people who love Penn State and love to show it off to anyone who will listen.
Anything to say for students who might want to join this club?
If any of the things Lion Ambassadors do sound interesting to you, the 2018 – 2019 application is open for sophomores and juniors to apply. It can be found at http://www.lionambassadors.com/2019-application.html I would encourage anyone who feels extraordinary pride for this university to consider applying!