JACKSONVILLE, Ill. (WCIA) — Ella Veith, a Lincoln Land Community College-Jacksonville student, was selected as a featured ambassador by the National Down Syndrome Society (NDSS), and was recently featured on the big screen in Times Square.

Veith was in New York for the NDSS’s 31st NYC Buddy Walk on Saturday, Sept. 12. She and her family spent several days in the city, and she said her favorite part about the experience was spending time with her family, trying NYC pizza and seeing her photo in Times Square.

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“My experience has been great, it’s really good experience for me. I’m really proud of myself and really want to say thank you to all my people and my family to be there. And, to be on Times Square, I’m really proud of that,” Veith explained.

Lincoln Land Community College said while Veith was there, she showed off her Logger pride outside the Today Show studios at Rockefeller Center and even took the time to join one of her classes from a deli.

“Congratulations Ella!! We’re proud of all you represent and love seeing Logger pride shine all the way to Times Square,” the community college wrote in a post on social media.

Veith is studying education at LLCC because she wants to help kids. When asked if she hopes to visit NYC again one day, she said she would “love to.”

The NDSS Times Square video presentation featured more than 500 individuals with Down syndrome from across the world. It was displayed on two video boards in Duffy Square.

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