This year’s UGA Tifton student ambassadors are: Sydney Pinder, Lissi Carr, Shelby Key, Ashton Wheeless, Megan Hise, Josh Odom, Cliff Collins, Joshua Aaron, Lucas Brock and Nick Hodges.

TIFTON, Ga. — University of Georgia Tifton campus student Josh Odom knew he wanted to be a UGA College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences ambassador from the time he first stepped onto campus in fall 2016.

 “I remembered those students in red jackets who helped me when I started, so I really wanted to give back the way they did for me,” said Odom, a senior agricultural education major from Tifton.

 Lissi Carr, a fellow ambassador and senior agricultural education major, echoed Odom’s sentiments.

 “I had friends who were in the program, and I saw the impact they had on students,” said Carr, who’s from Hawkinsville, Georgia. “I knew I wanted to make a difference on this campus.”

 Odom and Carr are two of 10 CAES ambassadors serving UGA-Tifton this semester. The other ambassadors are Lucas Brock of Bowdon, Georgia; Sydney Pinder of McDonough, Georgia; Shelby Key of Thomson, Georgia; Megan Hise of Lookout Mountain, Georgia; Cliff Collins of Appling, Georgia; Ashton Wheeless of Thomaston, Georgia; Joshua Aaron of Ellijay, Georgia; and Nick Hodges of Moultrie, Georgia. All of these ambassadors are agricultural education majors.

Ambassadors assist with events and encourage prospective students to enroll at UGA. They attend the college’s Southwest ShowCAES recruitment event, regional and statewide 4-H and FFA events, and college and career fairs held at area high schools.

 “We are essentially the face of UGA-Tifton,” Odom said. “We’re one of the first people you see when you come (to campus).”

 There are many benefits that come with serving as a CAES ambassador on the Tifton, Griffin or Athens campus. These students attend team-building retreats and present awards at the college’s annual alumni banquet.

 “I’ve had a lot of fun while being an ambassador,” Carr said. “Just this past month, I met former Georgia Gov. Sonny Perdue. You can’t beat those experiences.”

 Katie Murray, UGA-Tifton student recruiter and ambassador director, said she couldn’t be more proud of this year’s group of ambassadors and the work they’ve achieved in just two months on the job.

 “These students are the easiest part of my job,” Murray said. “Their level of responsibility and maturity is astounding.”

Being an ambassador allows students a chance to build their portfolios and network with individuals who can help them succeed in life after college.

“You get opportunities you wouldn’t necessarily get anywhere else,” Carr said.

Odom said the program enables students to become their best. He learned how to improve his interview skills and how to create the perfect resume though the program.

In order to become an ambassador, a student must be in CAES, maintain a 2.8 grade point average and possess excellent communication skills. Students also must complete an interview process.

For more information on the ambassador program, visit students.caes.uga.edu/current/clubs/caes-ambassadors-tifton.html.

 

(Julie Jernigan is an intern at UGA-Tifton.)