ACT Missouri proudly introduces our newest class of Youth Ambassadors! The selected students will receive specialized training in leadership, substance use prevention, advocacy, and behavioral health.
To learn more about our Youth Ambassadors select thier photo.
| Lauryn Brenner Junior, Calvary Lutheran  | Hunter Deters Senior, Morgan County R-II  |
| Samantha Gunn Senior, Calvary Lutheran  | Hope Heimsoth Junior, Morgan County R-II  |
| Michelle Li Junior, Marquette High School  | Morgan Neal Sophomore, Liberty North High School  |
| Madeline Partridge Senior, Eldon High School | Gunner Smith Senior, Kennett High School  |
| Abigail Ward Senior, Calvary Lutheran High School  | Katie Wollard Junior, Webster Groves High School  |
| Kelsie Byars | Sophomore Morgan County R-II High School |
 | Kelsie is involved with her school through various activities, including Student Council, DECA, and German Club. She volunteers for several organizations in her community. She wants to education her community about the hazards of drug and alcohol abuse. She is active in the Morgan County CLEAR coalition. |
| Samantha Gunn | Junior Calvary Lutheran High School |
 | Samantha is the current president of her high school's SADD Chapter. She is also active in many other school organizations, including Key Club, FFA, and Basketball. She volunteers in her community. She believes that by promoting prevention, she can make her community a better place. |
| Lizzie Oxley | Junior Calvary Lutheran |
 | Lizzie is active in several organizations, including Key Club, FTA, and Basketball. She volunteers for many groups in her community. She is passionate about preventing alcohol abuse in her community. She is active in her school's SADD chapter. |
| Gunner Smith | Junior Kennett High School |
 | Gunner is active in his school and community, participating in organizations such as Band, Pep Club, and Student Council. He volunteers in his community for various organizations. He is passionate about prevention, and advocates for the prohibited use of abused substances. He is active in Smokebusters/Making Our Mark at his high school. |
| Brock Winslow | Senior Linn High School |
 | Brock is active in his school and community, and participates in a variety of activities, including FFA, baseball, and Student Council. He volunteers for many organizations in his community. He is committed to staying substance-free, and encourages his classmates to do the same. He is an active member of Linn TREND/SADD. |
| Camren Worthley | Sophomore Morgan County R-I High School |
 | Camren is active in his school, participating in activities such as FCCLA, Student Council, and FCA. He also participates in various community service activities. He is passionate about educating others on the dangers of substance abuse, specifically tobacco. He is active in the Morgan County CLEAR Coalition. |
| Joe Viebrock | Sophomore Morgan County R-I High School |
 | Joe is very active in various organizations in his school, including FCCLA, FBLA, and Student Council. He volunteers in his community for several projects. He is passionate about educating his community on the dangers of abusing drugs. He is active in the Morgan County CLEAR Coalition. |
The Youth Ambassador Program is designed to empower the youth of today to be the substance abuse prevention leaders of tomorrow. Through interactive exercises, comprehensive trainings, and targeted focus on community needs, the Youth Ambassadors develop materials and support regional centers and school programs to prevent substance abuse.
Ambassadors represent the following schools:
The Youth Ambassadors meet once a month to discuss current problems in their areas and help achieve their mission to end substance abuse in their communities and Missouri. Regular trainings and activities are scheduled with the discussions to enhance participation and understanding of subject matter.
The Youth Ambassadors met for their first training on January 7, 2016. This dedicated group of six completed six exercises:
The 2014-2015 Missouri Youth Adult Alliance (MYAA) Youth Ambassadors have been selected. Youth Ambassadors play an integral role in the overall development and operation of our statewide underage drinking prevention initiative. MYAA’s adult members work together with the Youth Ambassadors in planning and implementing prevention practices and programs, as well as yearly events including the annual statewide youth conference, Speak Hard and annual Prevention Day at the Capitol.
The 2014-2015 Youth Ambassadors are: Kara Bernskoetter of Jefferson City, Raine Ryerson of Versailles, Madeline Patridge of Eldon, Tali Azar of Chesterfield, Krysta Ott of Sedalia, and Krista Stanford of Jefferson City.
“By becoming a Youth Ambassador, youth gain the confidence to be advocates in the field of substance abuse prevention. This includes grassroots advocacy through community mobilization and transformation, as well as advocating at the State Capitol with legislators,” said Chelsea Billeck, MYAA Project Director. “Our hope is that the students will leave the program feeling empowered to create change in their community – no matter how big or small!”
Members of MYAA’s Youth Ambassador Program are hardworking and well versed individuals who have demonstrated their commitment by reaching out to peers, friends, and younger students. Youth Ambassadors serve as role models for other students and agree to abstain from using drugs and alcohol.
MYAA is the statewide coalition made up of teens and adults that help local communities address problems with underage alcohol use; as it is the most abused substance by Missouri teens. Since 1997 the coalition has been instrumental in passing local and state level legislation including the passage of beer keg registration, social host/open house parties, and the ban of alcohol without liquid (AWOL) devices. MYAA is a program of ACT Missouri, the statewide training and resource center for substance abuse prevention.
Contact Information:
Chelsea Billeck
MYAA Project Director
ACT Missouri
428 E. Capitol Avenue
Jefferson City, MO 65101
(573) 635-6669
cbilleck@actmissouri.org
ACT Missouri
Developing leaders. Implementing programs. Empowering youth.
The perfect trifecta for youth substance
use prevention is the Youth Ambassador program, powered by ACT Missouri. Each year, the strongest young
advocates in Missouri high schools are invited to champion a cause that affects every community.
With so many risks available to students every day, and the list of consequences ever-expanding, communities across Missouri need strong, talented youth to recognize the problems and spearhead change in new, innovative methods.
Since 2011 Youth Ambassadors have served as a collective voice – representing the nearly 800,000 youth of the ShowMe State – and provide solutions to change the discussion on youth substance use in local communities.
The MYAA Youth Ambassador program services hundreds of youth – and they depend on the generosity of individuals like you.
Our MYAA Youth Ambassadors
are looking for sponsors.
A Sponsorship includes the following:
2 Trainings
Uniforms
Advocacy Programming
National CADCA
Conference Attendance
What We Do:Regular Meetings & Trainings
Youth Ambassadors receive immersive trainings and engagement experiences that reflect the diversity of Missouri, meet student needs, and develop core competencies needed to build the next health generation. Trainings regularly include the sharing of data, modules provided by partners like EVERFI and Taking Down Tobacco, and leadership development activities design to build skills reflected in the needs of a modern workforce like critical thinking, collaboration, and communication.
Statewide Youth-Centric Project
Each year, Youth Ambassadors are given the freedom to create a project the addresses a need they determine related to you youth safety. These projects are funded and support by Missouri SADD and ACT Missouri. Youth Ambassadors receive guidance and support from industry leaders to execute their project. Previous projects have included creation of a children’s book that builds resiliency skills, a streamed musical to address the consequences of purchasing controlled substances, and a comic book series highlight the dangers to youth bodies from vaping.
Speak Hard
Speak Hard is one of Missouri’s premier events for students with a passion for building health young lives. Youth Ambassadors help to craft the content for the event, including workshops and activities. Youth Ambassadors also act as the event host, speaking at opening and closing session, leading lunch and learns, and handing out annual Youth Awards to outstanding students in prevention.
Youth Safety Summit
The 2022-23 class of Youth Ambassadors will be instrumental in developing the first ever Youth Safety Summit. This event, focused exclusively on traffic safety initiatives like increasing seat belt usage and ending both distracted and impaired driving, will feature multiple interactive sessions and experience. Youth Ambassadors will both host the event and craft the content for students.
Supporting National and Missouri SADD Initiatives
Youth Ambassadors are responsible for implementing both Missouri and National SADD programs in their schools and communities. Missouri programs are crafted and updated annually by Youth Ambassadors to reflect new concerns and make improvements over previous years.
The Youth Ambassador Program collects the enthusiasm and drive of Missouri’s youth leaders and empowers them with
Each January, prevention leaders from across Missouri convene at the Missouri State Capitol for a day of prevention advocacy. Youth leaders
network with legislators, ensuring every Missouri legislator receives materials on information that matters most to them – youth safety and drug, alcohol, and risky behavior prevention.
The pinnacle event for Missouri’s youth prevention leaders, Speak Hard is a daylong event filled with workshops, speakers, networking, and activities all centered around youth prevention and leadership. Held each spring in Jefferson City, this event encourages
collaboration among youth on relevant prevention topics.
The Youth Safety Summit serves as the catalyst event for change each fall with a focus on traffic safety and distracted driving. Youth will engage in a one-day, online event with presentations and guest speakers that highlight state- and nationwide initiatives and programs.
Youth Ambassadors are Missouri’s student leaders in youth prevention.
Applications open each spring via ACT Missouri and Missouri SADD. Students are encouraged to complete the application process via an online form.
Students will need to answer general application questions and have a school photo, list of activities and accomplishments, and answer a short essay on drug and alcohol prevention. A parent or guardian will
need to sign off the application.
Applications are due May 2, 2022. Selected students will be informed of their selection by May 9, 2022.
Collectively, the Youth Ambassadors make up the Statewide Action Council (SAC). While each student will represent their Troop’s respective counties, they will collectively complete programs and activities. Youth Ambassadors may also play a role as a SAC leader.
One youth leader is selected each year from the counties served by each of Missouri’s nine MSHP Troops. If multiple students apply from one Troop, they may be assigned a different Troop to observe during their tenure. Each of these nine students will serve a one-year term as a Youth Ambassador, beginning August 1 and concluding May 31.
For more information, please contact SADDCoordinator Chris Dzurick at cdzurick@actmissouri.org.
MYAA’s Youth Ambassadors are the main catalyst’s for the prevention in underage drinking MYAA continually strives to achieve. MYAA Ambassadors are hardworking, motivated students, who dedicate their time and their commitment to reaching out to their peers, their friends and others about the dangers of underage drinking and the benefits of abstaining. Youth Ambassadors are role models to younger students and enjoy the confidence of believing in the fun and the empowerment of healthy choices and how important it is to support yourself.
If you know of a young person who would be great for the Youth Ambassador Program, or you are a young person who wants to get involved, the applications are open now, and close on May 4, 2015. Check out the Youth Ambassador website (http://www.actmissouri.org/youth-ambassadors/) for more information and to access the application when it becomes available.
Here are three of MYAA’s Youth Ambassadors and a little information about them.
Krista S., Kara, Raine, Krista O., and Tali
Tali Azar
Parkway Central High School, Chesterfield
Raine Ryerson
Morgan County R-II High School, Versailles
Madeline Partridge
Eldon High School, Eldon
MYAA Project Director Chelsea, Kara, Madeline, Raine, and Krista S.
Each quarter we will be highlighting some of our Missouri Youth Adult Alliance Youth Ambassadors. To learn more about the Youth Ambassador Program or MYAA, visit our website.
When working to support the health and well-being of young people, working with young people is essential to that process. That is why the Youth Ambassador Program is such an important piece of MYAA.
The MYAA Youth Ambassadors are a talented group of students from across Missouri who serve as the statewide youth voice for substance abuse prevention. They go through training with some of the top professionals in the field, design their own presentations to give in their communities, meet with legislators, and help plan the Speak Hard Youth Conference.
Youth ambassadors play an integral role in the overall development and operation of our statewide underage drinking prevention initiative. MYAA’s adult members work together with the Youth Ambassadors in planning and implementing prevention practices and programs, as well as yearly events including the annual statewide youth conference, Speak Hard and annual Prevention Day at the Capitol.
Members of MYAA’s Youth Ambassador Program are hardworking and well versed individuals who have demonstrated their commitment by reaching out to peers, friends, and younger students. Youth Ambassadors serve as role models for other students and agree to abstain from using drugs and alcohol.
If you know of a young person who would be great for the Youth Ambassador Program, or you are a young person who wants to get involved, the applications will open on March 25, 2015 and close on May 4, 2015. Check out the Youth Ambassador website (http://www.actmissouri.org/youth-ambassadors/) for more information and for access to the application when it becomes available.
Krysta Ott
Smith-Cotton Junior High, Sedalia
Kara Bernskoetter
Calvary Lutheran High School, Jefferson City
Krista Stanford
Calvary Lutheran High School, Jefferson City
Kara Bernskoetter, Krysta Ott, Becky Bade, Krista Stanford, and Tali Azar at a Youth Ambassador training at ACT Missouri.
Each quarter we will be highlighting some of our Missouri Youth Adult Alliance Youth Ambassadors. To learn more about the Youth Ambassador Program or MYAA, visit our website.
