USF student ambassadors bridge the gap between students, alumni and the community through outreach and events. ORACLE PHOTO/VIOLET VASQUEZ PIMENTEL

USF President Moez Limayem inducted 34 new members into the university’s Student Ambassadors program on March 10.

USF Student Ambassadors, established by the university’s Alumni Association in 1979, is one of the longest-standing leadership programs at USF and aims to link students to alumni and the community, according to its website.

Inducted ambassadors serve as official student representatives of the university, assisting at campus events, donor engagements, presidential functions and community outreach programs, according to the USF Ambassadors.

LaToya Wider, director of student relations for USF’s Alumni Association, said the ambassador program is designed to give students consistent exposure to professional environments.

Wider said ambassadors represent all USF campuses and serve until they graduate. There are about 60 student ambassadors across the three campuses.

Each year, student ambassadors are selected in the spring after going through a competitive process, she said.

Wider said that applicants must have at least a 2.9 GPA and submit all required materials, including a resume and two letters of recommendation, to be considered for the program.

She said applicants are also expected to have strong communication skills, be involved on campus and understand USF’s history and resources.

Then, candidates follow a three-part interview process to be selected — a group interview, an individual interview and a final interview with the university president.

“Strong candidates are self-motivated leaders who demonstrate a genuine love for USF,” Wider said.

Ambassadors are officially notified via email the day they are selected and later complete an orientation program called Ambassador Academy.

USF leaders and newly inducted student ambassadors said the program offers valuable leadership opportunities while promoting school pride across the university’s campuses.

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For newly inducted ambassador Rebecca Nieves, the program represents an opportunity to “give back” to a community she values. 

Nieves, a junior biology major, said she was inspired to apply this year after learning about the ambassador program through her role as Student Alumni Association events coordinator.

She was also encouraged through connections with current and former ambassadors, as she enjoyed seeing their professionalism at campus events. 

“I really love that USF has become kind of a community to me, and to be able to give more back to that on a larger scale … would be really amazing,” Nieves said.

While she started as an ambassador just a few weeks ago, Nieves said she has already started building relationships and is excited about new connections available to her through the program.

“At first, applying can seem so scary…but it really can become such a good community for you,” Nieves said. “I’ve been so excited for a while now.”

Along with the communication skills and professionalism needed to succeed as an ambassador, Nieves said connection and networking are among the most valuable and rewarding parts of the role. 

“Ambassadors do a very good job of [making a difference]”, she said. “They can bring alumni, bring donors back to the USF community, and keep them connected.”

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But being an ambassador extends from appearances to behavior. Nieves said ambassadors must balance being approachable with representing USF in a polished, professional manner.

“Meet yourself where you are and be yourself,” Nieves said. “That’s what makes ambassadors successful, not trying to perform a version of professionalism.”

Wider said USF has expanded both its acreage, reach and public image over the last few decades — and has increasingly relied on student-facing representatives to reflect this growth and identity. 

Therefore, she said ambassadors are expected to maintain professional standards in both dress and communication when representing USF.

Wider said that, depending on the event, ambassadors are required to dress professionally, often wearing a green blazer, polo or an ambassador T-shirt. They are also expected to speak in a polished, professional manner.

Overall, Wider said ambassadors help connect USF to its community through student experiences while making the university feel more personal to its visitors. 

“This program brings together some of USF’s best and brightest students,” Wider said. “They are able to articulate their experiences, opportunities and enthusiasm for the university.”