Alyssa Richardson, Lantana, is a Student Ambassador at Southwestern College

2013 Dec 3

Southwestern College student ambassadors play a vital part in the recruitment and retention of future and current students at SC.

Alyssa Richardson, Lantana, is a student ambassador at SC.

“There really is no way to measure their importance,” says Leslie Grant, senior admissions counselor at Southwestern College. “They are a huge portion of the campus visit and ultimately the decision a student makes to come to SC. Almost every ambassador we hire remembers who gave them their tour on their visit. I find that fascinating. I think this shows why this position is so important to our recruitment efforts.”

Each spring, a request for applicants for the ambassador positions are sent out throughout the campus. Applicants must submit answers to numerous questions before Grant narrows down the number of applications depending on how many are needed for the next school year.

“We look for several things when hiring ambassadors,” Grant says. “For example, do they have good communications skills, good eye contact, and can the student carry on a conversation with another student and parent. We also like to find out why they chose SC. If they remember their tour guide after two years, and they want to share that experience with new students, that is a really good sign that they will make a great ambassador.”

Ambassadors work two hours per week in the office. Their duties include giving tours, taking prospective students to appointments, taking students to lunch, and visiting with families that are waiting at the Welcome Center. They also work two Explore More Days per year and the biggest recruitment day of the year, Scholarship Day.

“We have so much training that goes into being an ambassador,” Grant says. “It’s not just how to give a tour and what the different stories are on campus. It’s about relationships, connection, and the ability to express the SC ‘Be A Builder’ motto to prospective students.”