| Katherine DeBry |
Almost 200 students applied for the 19 College of Eastern Utah Ambassador positions open for the 2008-09 academic year. After weeks of interviews, Ashton Scarlet of Kaysville; Austin Gray, Clinton; Blake Tucker, Huntington; Bruce Jensen, Elsinore; Cambria Murray, West Point; Carly Smith, Magna; Beth Maddox, Wendover; Farrah Nelson, Price; Jessie Kelley, Roy; Katherine DeBry, Ferron; Kaylen Walton, Vernal; Kelton Wells, Price; Mike Gingell, Myton; Sarah Bailey, Willard; and Whitney Oliver, Spring Glen, all from Utah. There will also be four out of state students joining the team this year. They are: Aubrey Dezarn of Las Vegas, Nev; Heather Woodruff, Colorado Springs, Colo; Kevin Smurthwaite, Meridian, Idaho; and Rachel Ryan, South Burlington, Vermont.
These students will join the returning ambassadors: Alyson (Jensen) Madsen from Springville; Ashree Atterton, Pleasant Grove; Becky DeLeeuw, Tooele; Indra Gines, Kearns; and Kylee Ragan, Roy.
“College of Eastern Utah Ambassadors is a leadership group responsible for public relations work between the college and outside community. They are liaisons between CEU and prospective students and their families” said director Terry Johnson, Associate Director of High School and Prospective Student Relations.
The process to get into the ambassador program is highly competitive.
The procedure a high school student goes through to become an ambassador is to first submit a scholarship application indicating that they would like to be considered for the ambassador program.
| Blake Tucker. |
The students are then invited to come and give a presentation before the office of admissions and scholarships staff and current ambassadors.
After their presentation, there is an extensive interview process much like a job interview. “It was very competitive this year with numerous awesome candidates,” said Johnson.
“It’s a difficult process to choose those individuals who we feel will give the team the strength we need for the coming year.
Ambassadors are primarily responsible for recruitment efforts.
Each ambassador gives around 7 – 10 hours minimum of service each week towards recruitment.
Duties include bulk mailing, campus tours, phone calling, and visiting all the high schools in Utah several times throughout the year.
“To maintain their ambassador status, Ambassadors are held to the “Five A’s” of Being an Eastern Utah Ambassador”.
“These are: ambassador, academics, attitude, accountability and activity,” he said. “We expect each one to be an ambassador at all times no matter where they are.
“We hold them to an high academic standard.
“We expect them to maintain a positive attitude. We hold them accountable for the performance of their duties.
“We encourage them to be actively involved in the school and community,” said Johnson.