Eleven students, including five seniors and one international student, have been named ambassadors for the 2020-21 academic year at University of Wisconsin-Stout.
The Stout Ambassadors program, in its fifth year, gives students opportunities to represent the student body and engage with campus leadership, alumni and corporations through a variety of special events and opportunities.
“The program will help me continue to practice my leadership skills, which will help me in my career,” said Ambassador Tara Weber. “The program is also a way to help me connect with other students who are passionate about becoming better leaders and with their programs here at UW-Stout.”
The ambassadors, their hometowns, majors and years in school are:
- Lisa Driver, of Tripoli, family and consumer sciences education, junior
- Alexa Gravunder, of Wautoma, supply chain management, senior
- Jack Hoaby, of Maple Lake, Minn., applied science, senior
- Willa Rodencal, of Waukesha, retail merchandising and management, digital marketing, sophomore
- Kallie Taylor, of Forest Lake, Minn., interior design, business administration, senior
- Jake Thomas, of Northfield, Minn., engineering technology, senior
- Nilufar Umarova, of Vahdat, Tajikistan, hotel, restaurant and tourism management, junior
- Sarah Webber, of Rice Lake, packaging, junior
- Tara Weber, of Dorchester, family and consumer sciences education, junior
- Madelyn Wilmot, of Osceola, marketing and business education, junior
- Samantha Ziwicki, of Clearwater, Minn., hotel, restaurant and tourism management, senior
Six of the 11 were chosen for the second straight year: Gravunder, Hoaby, Taylor, Thomas, Webber and Ziwicki.
In addition to representing 11 academic majors, the ambassadors have been involved in a variety of student organizations and activities. For example, Wilmot serves on the board of Colleges Against Cancer.
“I know the importance of donating to causes greater than yourself and helping organizations, like the American Cancer Society, to help make an impact on campus and in the world,” Wilmot said.
The ambassadors program is a collaborative project with the Involvement Center and the Alumni Association.
To become ambassadors, students had to fill out an application and be interviewed. Criteria for eligibility includes having a grade-point average of at least 3.0; taking at least six class credits; and being available to share their UW-Stout experience with alumni and prospective students. Applicants also must answer three essay questions and provide a resume.
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