Experience UGA Ambassadors are the first people to greet Clarke County School District students as they arrive on campus, and they are instrumental in the overall success of the Experience UGA program. The ambassador program is designed to enhance students leadership and critical thinking skills, and is recognized as a high impact experiential learning opportunity. Ambassadors assist Experience UGA staff in coordinating and providing logistical support to over 100 field trips annually, and they take part in a year-long leadership development curriculum as well.
In addition to hands on experience facilitating field trips, students who participate in the ambassador program gain a deeper understanding of the PreK-12th grade educational experience and issues surrounding access to higher education. Ambassadors also strengthen multiple skills, including community engagement, self identity, professional development.
Current Ambassadors
Siera Adams
Siera Adams
Conyers, GA
Third Year
MAJOR
Pharmaceutical Sciences
MINOR
Public Health
Vashnavi Balaji
Vashnavi Balaji
Cumming, GA
Second Year
MAJOR
Biology / Psychology
Mia Bazelais
Mia Bazelais
Marietta, GA
Second Year
MAJOR
Exercise Science
Farzana Begum
Farzana Begum
Atlanta, GA
Second Year
MAJOR
Communication Science and Disorders
Devyn Bennett
Devyn Bennett
Blakely, GA
First Year
MAJOR
Political Science
Morgan Boakye
Morgan Boakye
Toronto, Ontario
Third Year
MAJOR
Public Relations / Business / Fashion Merchandising
Kylie Budge
Kylie Budge
Cumming, GA
Third Year
MAJOR
Communication Sciences and Disorders
MINOR
Spanish
Kate Cartwright
Kate Cartwright
Columbus, GA
Third Year
MAJOR
Elementary Education
MINOR
Spanish / TESOL
Shy Chambers
Shy Chambers
Cochran, GA
Third Year
MAJOR
Business Management / Sport Management
MINOR
Communication Studies
Carolina De La Vega
Carolina De La Vega
Cumming, GA
Fourth Year
MAJOR
Psychology
MINOR
Human Development and Family Science
Nathan Demas
Nathan Demas
Lawrenceville, GA
Second Year
MAJOR
Exercise and Sports Science
MINOR
Biomedical Physiology
Skylar Dillon
Skylar Dillon
Albuquerque, NM
Second Year
MAJOR
Biomedical Physiology
MINOR
Women’s Studies / Biology
Alyssa Graham
Alyssa Graham
Charleston, SC
Second Year
MAJOR
Cognitive Science / Spanish
CERTIFICATE
Personal and Organizational Leadership (Pre-Law)
Shania Green
Shania Green
Atlanta, GA
Third Year
MAJOR
Atmospheric Sciences / Geography
CERTIFICATE
Geographic Information Science
Sarah Gordon
Sarah Gordon
Buford, GA
Third Year
MAJOR
Political Science
Taylor Hodge
Taylor Hodge
Northborough, MA
Second Year
MAJOR
Psychology / Criminal Justice
MINOR
Law, Jurisprudence, and The State
Lauren Jackson
Lauren Jackson
McDonough, GA
First Year
MAJOR
Computer Science
Patrick Maffe
Patrick Maffe
Acworth, GA
Graduate Student
Biomedical Engineering
Madi Martinez
Madi Martinez
Stone Mountain, GA
First Year
MAJOR
Psychology (Pre-Med)
Zykeria Miller
Zykeria Miller
Everywhere, USA
Second Year
MAJOR
Regenerative Bioscience
Emily Nettles
Emily Nettles
Acworth, GA
Third Year
MAJOR
Biology
MINOR
Biotechnology
Luke Noland
Luke Noland
Rockmart, GA
Third Year
MAJOR
Political Science
Leslie Oroyemi
Leslie Oroyemi
Lawrenceville, GA
Fourth Year
MAJOR
Biology
MINOR
Human Development and Family Science
Mansi Patel
Mansi Patel
McDonough, GA
Second Year
MAJOR
Psychology
MINOR
Biology
Maria Rigopoulis
Maria Rigopoulis
Shrewsbury, NJ
Second Year
MAJOR
Advertising
MINOR
Sport Management
Anna Schukowski
Anna Schukowski
Cumming, GA
Second Year
MAJOR
Elementary Education
MINOR
TESOL
Hermela Sileshi
Hermela Sileshi
Lawrenceville, GA
Third Year
MAJOR
Health Promotion (Pre-Anesthesiologist)
Sydney Stanley
Sydney Stanley
Rydal, GA
Third Year
MAJOR
Human Development and Family Science
Kylie Taylor
Kylie Taylor
Cumming, GA
Second Year
MAJOR
Psychology / Communication Sciences and Disorders
Elle Tharby
Elle Tharby
Kinnelon, NJ
Second Year
MAJOR
Finance
MINOR
Sports Management
Hà Tiến Đạt
Hà Tiến Đạt
Hà Nội, Việt Nam
First Year
MAJOR
Risk Management and Insurance
Mi’Angel Williams
Mi’Angel Williams
Augusta, GA
Third Year
MAJOR
Environmental Health Science (Pre-Med)
Colin Willoughby
Colin Willoughby
Savannah, GA
Third Year
MAJOR
Communication Sciences and Disorders
Amariya Wise
Amariya Wise
Virginia Beach, VA
Third Year
MAJOR
Biology
MINOR
Human Development and Family Sciences
Gabi Witucki
Gabi Witucki
Peachtree City, GA
Second Year
MAJOR
Political Science and International Affairs
Applicants must meet these qualifications:
- Must be an enrolled undergraduate or graduate student at the University of Georgia
- Must attend and participate at all retreats and all Wednesday weekly meetings
- Will commit to 50 hours minimum per semester facilitating Experience UGA trips (trips occur Tuesday through Friday starting at 9 a.m. and ending between 11 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. depending on the age group)
- Must be free at least two days per week (Tuesday-Friday) from at least 9 a.m. to 12 p.m.
- Will actively participate in all Experience UGA events and projects,
- Develop community outreach projects that will enhance the mission of Experience UGA and support the school district communities,
- Assist with marketing efforts and support Experience UGA media,
- Assist with general volunteer recruitment and Ambassador recruitment programming,
- And assist in other duties as assigned
A detailed overview of the Ambassador program and a sample application can be found here.
The Experience UGA Ambassadors will serve from the beginning of spring to the end of fall semester as ambassadors for the University of Georgia to the Clarke County School District. They will create a presence in the community through their participation in Experience UGA trips and events as well as School District and community events. Furthermore, they will study issues surrounding education and the history of education in Athens-Clarke County to understand the perceptions and stigmas surrounding higher education and work to destigmatize these perceptions of higher education for Clarke County students.
Serving as an Experience UGA Ambassador will also be included on your Experiential Learning Transcript and meets the requirement for students in the College of Education, College of Family and Consumer Sciences, and College of Arts and Sciences. Experience UGA Ambassadors will enhance their leadership competency by developing their skills in civic engagement, critical thinking, communication, ethical reasoning, and reflection. All Experience UGA Ambassadors will support initiatives in the following areas: Community Engagement & Outreach, Fundraising & Events, Marketing & Public Relations, and Recruitment & Orientation, and work to enhance Experience UGA’s connection with the Clarke County School District. Ambassadors will have the opportunity to take on further leadership roles if desired during their second year in the program.
If you have questions, or would like to learn more about the ambassador program, please email: Aiyana Egins, Experience UGA Coordinator.
Read about some of last year’s Experience UGA Ambassadors
Program Highlights:
- Over 170 students have participated in the Ambassador program since its inception in 2016.
- Last year, 18 undergraduate students completed the Experience UGA Ambassador Experiential Learning opportunity (Jan-Dec 2022).
- We currently have 25 undergraduate & graduate students in our 2023 program who will complete their Experiential Learning opportunity.
- Experience UGA Ambassadors collected over 100 boxes for Campus Kitchen’s 2022 TurkeyPalooza donation.
- Ambassadors also volunteered at Clarke County’s School District’s Family Fun Day, Clark County’s Sheriff Department’s Fall Festival, and the State Botanical Garden of Georgia’s Questival event.