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Ambassadors serve out of love for students, seminary
February 21, 2005
By Bryan Cribb
Each year Southern Seminary and Boyce College select several students to serve as ambassadors for Southern Baptists' flagship institution. Established in August 1994, the ambassador program offers students an opportunity to enhance and establish positive relationships between Southern and new students, prospective students, donors, alumni and the community.
Currently, 17 Southern students serve through the seminary ambassador program, representing the institution through the offices of Student Services, Institutional Relations and Admissions. The five women and 12 men hail from 12 different states and Canada.
With Student Services, ambassadors welcome new students during fall and spring orientations and assist with the graduation banquet.
"Furthermore, ambassadors serve as a voice for the students — a connecting point in the relationship between Student Services and the student body," said Paul Daulton, president of Southern's ambassadors.
For Institutional Relations, each ambassador calls seminary supporters to show appreciation for past donations and to encourage continued support in the future.
With Admissions, ambassadors play a major role in student recruitment. Through hundreds of calls to prospective students, traveling on various recruiting trips throughout the United States and almost 300 campus tours, ambassadors give a "personal touch" that is indispensable to the admissions process, said Scott Davis, director of admissions. In addition, ambassadors assist in several important recruiting events such as Preview Conferences and the Give Me An Answer Collegiate Conference.
"Every contact that we make with prospective students builds relationships and provides opportunities to share with them about the finest evangelical seminary in the world," Davis said.
Ambassadors also give prospective students a student's perspective.
"It is a privilege to experience the excitement of someone who is seeking God's will for his or her life or has discovered that God is leading him or her to attend Southern Seminary," Daulton said. "We have all been there, and ambassadors get to help others as they go through the same process."
Another benefit enjoyed by ambassadors is a greater love for the seminary.
"Serving as an ambassador is the best way for a student to get to know the seminary and the best way to serve the seminary," said Doug Walker, senior vice president for Institutional Relations.
Ambassadors must possess several essential qualities, Daulton said.
"An ambassador must be a person who cares for individuals and Southern Seminary," he said. "An ambassador needs to be outgoing, personal and motivated. With the role of an ambassador having many facets, the student must be well-rounded."
Southern students interested in becoming an ambassador for the 2 academic year should contact Institutional Relations (Foundation House) for an application. For further details, see page 8 of this issue of Towers. Prospective ambassadors for Boyce College should contact Ed Stucky in Admissions, x4617.
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