TG’s Ambassador Program

Ask any new student—going to college for the first time can be a bit of an ordeal. Application paperwork, taking on debt, moving away from home—these are all part of the ritual of change for students. This can be intimidating, especially to anyone unfamiliar with the process. In response to the needs of Texas students and parents, the TG Ambassador Program eases the transition by providing information at financial aid fairs, college nights, community events, and college preparation workshops at middle and high schools, colleges, community centers, and faith-based venues across the state.

The Ambassadors, composed of volunteers from various TG sub-processes, recently geared up for another busy year of providing families with much-needed information. On August 10, the Ambassadors attended the annual training for new and continuing members. The team brushed up on their financial aid and admissions knowledge and learned some pointers for interacting with parents and students.

TG Ambassador and director of pre-college success Richard Sapp said, "We've had over 140 events in FY 2005. We haven't had to turn down any requests for our services, because we have so many knowledgeable Ambassadors who are prepared to answer all the questions that students and parents have about college."

This year's training was the first lead by the program's new director, Nakeenya Haynes. According to Nakeenya, her biggest challenge comes in figuring out how to get the most out of the resources team members bring to the program. "We have Ambassadors that come from all areas of TG, who have different degrees of experience with the financial aid and admissions process," she said. "We have to equip them with the knowledge necessary to make a difference in students' lives."

The Ambassador team discuss particular issues during their training.

Since many of the awareness opportunities take place in the evenings and on weekends, Ambassadors volunteer time outside their normal work hours to advance TG's mission. According to Nakeenya, the extra effort pays off. "It is a very rewarding experience to be able to reach out to communities with low college attendance rates," she said. "This information could possibly change the course of their futures."

Indeed, the Ambassadors show their commitment to the welfare of communities and public service organizations with their hands-on approach. "The program allows TG to reach audiences throughout the state," said Richard. "The Pre-College Success team couldn't reach all the areas we do without the help of the Ambassador Program."

On a professional level, Ambassadors have the opportunity to expand their financial aid industry knowledge and to develop presentation and communication skills. However, most of the Ambassadors, like bankruptcy analyst Sonia Hernandez, volunteer simply because they are passionate about promoting higher education.

"I feel a sense of responsibility to help educate students and parents on college admissions and financial aid," said Sonia. "Growing up, I did not know that college was available for me, so now I want to make sure that everyone knows that the goal of attending college is attainable."

Ambassadors role-play in a class exercise.

By encouraging students and providing them with the information they need to go to college, Ambassadors perform a critical function in support of Texas' "Closing the Gaps" campaign. One of the goals of that campaign, and also a TG corporate goal for FY 2005-2007, is to increase college enrollment by 500,000 students by 2015.

Nakeenya is optimistic about the program's success. "Each year since the program has been in existence, we have increased the number of awareness events," she said. "That means we've given more parents and students the necessary information to attend a postsecondary institution."

Certainly, with the motivation and dedication of Ambassadors like Sonia, even more students are likely to go to school. "When I say something to plant that seed and get students thinking about continuing their education, I get a sense of accomplishment," said Sonia. "I feel good knowing that I've helped someone come a step closer to realizing their goals."

For more inforamtion on TG’s Ambassador program, contact Nakeenya Haynes at (512) 219-4784 or nakeenya.haynes@tgslc.org.