Ambassador Program Expands for Statewide Campuses to Provide More Student Leadership Opportunities

In fall 2023, Utah State University expanded its Ambassador Program to include several Statewide Campuses in the USU Wasatch Region, as well as USU Tooele. Retooled to fit the lifestyles of students on a non-residential campus, students participating in this program are now enjoying similar benefits to those students in Logan, Price and Blanding.

“I’ve always admired what the Ambassador Program adds for our students in Logan, Eastern and Blanding,” said Vanessa Liesik, director of Statewide & USU Online Recruitment. “This is something I wanted to bring to more campuses — something I thought could fit in Statewide. We have tailored it to fit the unique needs of our individual Statewide Campuses, and it is unique and special in its own way.”

The Ambassador Program is a three-prong program that provides students with opportunities for service, leadership and professional development. At the statewide level, USU Ambassadors participate in the recruitment activity in their region and work closely with admission specialists to connect with the local community, become engaged in community outreach and service projects, and connect with local high school students to introduce them to USU Statewide Campuses. Students also receive full tuition and fee scholarship, which is renewable up to eight semesters.

“This program provides a wonderful opportunity for our Statewide students, not just in terms of getting help to pay for schooling. But also, it offers them invaluable experiences in being involved in all the recruitment and the professional development,” said Olivia Lee, adviser for the Ambassador Program for the USU Wasatch Region. “With this scholarship being renewable for up to eight semesters, we get to have a prolonged relationship with our students, and we get to dig deep and build upon our focus areas of leadership, service and professional development. In our small group at Statewide, we get to stack on what we did the previous year.”

Currently, the Statewide Ambassador Program is available at USU Eastern and USU Blanding and is in its pilot stage at USU Tooele and the USU Wasatch Region. While the program is new in these areas, several of its participants have been in the program in Logan. Finding themselves needing to change to a USU Statewide Campus, the students were grateful to still have this opportunity to be ambassadors. They feel the program has been very beneficial.

“We’ve done a lot more events and outreach, which is very beneficial in a Statewide sense,” said Austin Smith, who was previously an ambassador on the Logan campus before changing campuses. “I’ve been able to attend a lot more events throughout the valley to different schools and different campuses and whatnot. They’ve adjusted it in a way to where we are doing the most beneficial things, and a lot more of them to compensate for the things that we don’t have available down here. Honestly, it doesn’t feel that different.”

Students have also raved about the type of personalized mentorship they receive. They feel like the program is a great benefit for them, not just because of the scholarship, but from the skills they learn and the difference they make in others’ lives who are considering college.

“I’ve gained invaluable job and career skills that I never thought I would gain as a sophomore,” said USU second-year student Alivia Hadfield. “And I’m working with amazing people. I’ve been going and doing open houses, talking about how amazing Statewide is and visiting high schools and talking to students about their options at USU. I’ve learned a lot about the good that USU does compared to other colleges. It is kind of insane the reach that USU has. It has been a great experience.”

The Ambassador Program will continue to expand, with several more Statewide Campuses offering the program starting in fall 2024.

“It’s been really fun to bring this to Statewide and it is my privilege to expand this program,” Liesik said. “I get to work with amazing students and amazing advisers every day.”

Applications for the USU Statewide Ambassador Program are now open and close on March 15. To learn more about the program and to apply, visit www.usu.edu/admissions/scholarships/ambassador.php. The program is highly competitive and spots are limited. USU is looking for students who are involved in school or community leadership, who are highly motivated and who have a passion for USU.

Utah State University’s Statewide Campuses create impact by bettering the lives of the people and places they serve. From career and technical certificates to doctorate degrees, USU offers programs that help fuel local economies and empower individuals and their communities. With multiple locations across 85,000 square miles, USU can be the hometown university to anyone, no matter where they live. Learn more at statewide.usu.edu.