The TRiO SSS Project has officially launched its Ambassador Program to provide a select number of TRiO SSS students with a real-time learning laboratory experience intended to enhance their skills in leadership, mentoring, public speaking, event planning, project management, and group facilitation. Five high performing TRiO SSS student leaders were selected through a competitive application process to become ambassadors. The program encourages the active participation of the Ambassadors in achieving the project’s goal of increasing retention and graduation rates of students that are first generation, low-income and with disabilities at Skyline College. The mission of the TRiO SSS Ambassador Program is to represent the TRiO SSS project in a positive reflection of Skyline College and TRiO SSS’s vision, goals, and mission as well as being a source of information for students, administrators, faculty, staff, community partners and leaders, youth, groups, and friends of the TRiO SSS Project. The Ambassadors are student leaders that embody Kourzes and Poser (2008) five practices of exemplary leadership: Model the way, Inspire a shared vision, Enable others to act, Challenge the process, and Encourage the heart. They want to facilitate positive social change at Skyline College and the community by undertaking actions which will help the institution/community “to empower and transform a global community of learners.” Kourzes, J.M., Posner, B.Z. (2008). The Student Leadership Challenge: Five Practices for Exemplary Leaders.
Article by Raymond Jones. Photo by Raul Guerra.