Ten of Bearden’s freshmen found themselves starting their Friday off with a cookie cake and another sweet treat: the news that they had been selected as Freshman Ambassadors.
This second round of ambassadors was chosen after a lengthy application process which included written responses, three recommendations, and an interview in front of a panel consisting of Freshman Academy dean Mrs. Rebecca Nutter, Freshman Academy principal Dr. Davis Bodie, Academy coach Mrs. Kelley Darnell, and curriculum principal Dr. Dave Rynkiewicz.
They were then selected based on “their value systems, their leadership capabilities, their extracurricular activities, their goals, and the priorities they had,” Mrs. Darnell said.
Now that the stress of their applications is out of the way, these new initiates can focus on diving into training and becoming full fledged ambassadors.
This year’s group has the benefit of working with the academy ambassadors, who were in their shoes as Freshman Ambassadors last year.
“We’re going to be mentoring them and getting them up to speed on all the things we do as ambassadors now, and continuing to learn and grow with them, as ambassadors have more responsibilities,” STEMA Ambassador Taylor Haun said.
As the mentoring process begins, the ambassadors of both grades are building relationships that will ensure the program becomes a tight-knit community of leaders.
“I knew a few of [the sophomores] before, but the ones who I didn’t were really welcoming,” Freshman Ambassador Addison Faerber said. “They all wrote us letters, and it was just really sweet.”
Added Haun: “There’s just a lot of responsibility and a lot of honor in sort of getting to pave the way in these new academy systems that are happening.”
It is this sense of honor in their responsibilities that sets the ambassadors apart. They don’t just want the responsibilities, but they truly take pride in what they do.
“I’m looking forward to representing our grade in the school,” Faerber said.
Not only will these ambassadors represent their grades, but they will represent the school as a whole.
When industry partners and other guests are in the building, the ambassadors are often some of the first people they meet, as they are responsible for providing professional tours and escorting guests to their desired locations around the school.
Throughout the past year, the academy system has brought a number of changes to Bearden High School, but one thing that’s for sure: the school is in good hands with these students to help out.