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Search Results for: youth ambassadors

Meet the 2018-19 Youth Ambassadors!

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.

Zachary Estes
Zachary Estes
Kaleb Hatfield
Kaleb Hatfield
Shalynn Jones
Shalynn Jones

Anna Knoerle
Anna Knoerle
Jordyn Mays
Jordyn Mays
Jonathan Shanks
Jonathan Shanks

Meet the 2017 Youth Ambassadors

Click on each name to learn more about the 2017 Youth Ambassadors.

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

Meet the 2016 Youth Ambassadors!

Kelsie ByarsSophomore
Morgan County R-II High School
userKelsie 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 GunnJunior
Calvary Lutheran High School
Samantha GunnSamantha 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 OxleyJunior
Calvary Lutheran
Lizzie OxleyLizzie 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 SmithJunior
Kennett High School
Gunner SmithGunner 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 WinslowSenior
Linn High School
Brock WinslowBrock 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 WorthleySophomore
Morgan County R-I High School
Camren WorthleyCamren 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 ViebrockSophomore
Morgan County R-I High School
Joe ViebrockJoe 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.

2016 Youth Ambassadors Attend First Training

 

YA 2016

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:

  • Calvary Lutheran High School (Jefferson City)
  • Kennett High School
  • Linn High School
  • Morgan County R-I (Stover)
  • Morgan County R-II (Versailles)

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.

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The Youth Ambassadors met for their first training on January 7, 2016.  This dedicated group of six completed six exercises:

  • Cause & Effect: Ambassadors matched causes of substance abuse to related effects
  • Elevator Speeches: Ambassadors learned how to best spend their thirty seconds in an elevator to explain to someone what they do as an Ambassador
  • Personal Mission Statements: each Ambassador learned that reviewing goals regularly is important in accomplishing them
  • Bridge to Support: using everyday items, Ambassadors built a ‘bridge to support’ before learning how a combination of treatment techniques is most successful

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  • Cause & Effect, Revisited: Ambassadors determined the best treatment option for varying types of substance abuse
  • Guess Who: Ambassadors reviewed real stories of substance abuse and pinpointed where prevention programs could have intervened

2014-2015 MYAA Youth Ambassadors Selected

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

 

MYAA Youth Ambassador Donor Page

Support Our Youth

ACT Missouri

Youth Ambassador Program
Powered by
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.

DONATE

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.

myaa-ambassadors

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MYAA Ambassador

Our MYAA Youth Ambassadors
are looking for sponsors.
A Sponsorship includes the following:
2 Trainings
Uniforms
Advocacy Programming
National CADCA
Conference Attendance

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Youth Ambassador Role, Responsibilities, and Time Commitments

 An ideal Youth Ambassador will be able to:

  • Serve a one-year term of July 1, 2021 – May 1, 2022.
  • Serve as youth representatives of ACT Missouri at conferences, on task forces, and on advisory committees (within an individual member’s ability).
  • Speak publicly about issues vital to the Youth Ambassadors.
  • Serve as a role model for Missouri students setting an example of positive and responsible teen attitudes and behavior, including abstaining from using drugs and alcohol.
  • Be able to communicate effectively via email. (This will be the primary form of communication between the Youth Ambassador and the Project Director.)Be sure to list an email you check regularly on your application.
  • Join in scheduled Google Hangouts to discuss works in progress, current events, proposed campaigns, programs, and activities.
  • Work collaboratively with all types of people.
  • Attend two Youth Ambassador trainings in Jefferson City in fall/winter 2021-22.
  • Participate in Prevention Day at the Capitol in Jefferson City in winter 2022.
  • Contribute to the Speak Hard Youth Conference in Jefferson City in spring 2022.

Eligibility

  • Applicants must be a Missouri high school student in the 2021-2022 academic year.
  • All applicants must be students in good academic standing with no lower than a C average overall and must agree to maintain that good standing throughout their term.
  • Members of the Youth Ambassador’s program must be prepared to meet all of the obligations outlined in the “Roles, Responsibilities, and Time Commitments.”
  • Students must be willing and able to travel to Jefferson City for trainings and events, and must be accompanied by an adult if under 18.

Application and Selection Process

The Youth Ambassador Program will consist of up to 8 students.   All completed applications for the Youth Ambassador Program will be forwarded to a panel of judges made up of ACT Missouri staff and volunteers.  Those applicants that display the ideal Youth Ambassador qualities listed above based on their application and essay will be contacted for a brief follow-up phone interview with the Project Director.   The 2021-2022 Youth Ambassadors will be announced Summer 2021.

Application Materials

Each completed application must include the following items.  Failure to include any of these items or any false statements, omissions, or other misrepresentations made by the student, will result in disqualification of the applicant.

  • Completed Youth Ambassador application
  • Parental permission slip (initialed by a parent or guardian)
  • Activities and accomplishments (no more than two pages)
  • Short essay (no more than one page)
  • One Letter of Recommendation (choose any category)
    1. Letter from your SADD Advisor
    2. Letter from a school representative (teacher, principal, coach, etc.)
    3. Letter from a Prevention Resource Center representative
    4. Other (cannot be from parents or other family members)

Letter of Recommendation

  • Letter should indicate why the applicant would be a positive addition to the Youth Ambassador Program. The review panel appreciates anecdotes and examples illustrating the writer’s points.
  • All mailed letters should be submitted on letterhead and in a sealed and initialed envelope.
  • All emails should be from a professional email address and sent to info@actmissouri.org with the applicant’s name in the subject line.

 

It is the policy of ACT Missouri to provide equal opportunities without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, gender, sexual preference, age, or disability.  

Start the Application

Youth Ambassador Program

YAP-logo-300x174

Through the Youth Ambassador program, 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.   Students will leave the program feeling empowered to create change in their community – no matter how big or small!

Youth Ambassadors play an integral role in the overall development and operation of our statewide underage drinking prevention initiative.  The Project Director will work together with the Youth Ambassadors in planning and implementing prevention practices and programs, as well as yearly events including the statewide youth conference, Speak Hard, and Prevention Day at the Capitol.

Youth Ambassadors will be expected to serve in leadership roles within their community.  They may be called upon often to represent the program at conferences, media events, and other types of engagements throughout their term as a Youth Ambassador.

Members of the 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 shall serve as role models for other students and agree to abstain from using drugs and alcohol. 

Ambassador Responsibilities
Ambassador Application

2018-2019 Youth Ambassadors

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.

Zachary Estes
Zachary Estes
Kaleb Hatfield
Kaleb Hatfield
Shalynn Jones
Shalynn Jones

Anna Knoerle
Anna Knoerle
Jordyn Mays
Jordyn Mays
Jonathan Shanks
Jonathan Shanks

MYAA Youth Ambassador Profiles: Tali, Raine, and Madeline

 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 (https://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

  • Reason why I am a youth ambassador: To be able to make a difference and better my community.
  • Favorite subject in school: Ceramics because it relaxes me and allows me to be creative
  • Favorite thing to do outside of school: I like to hang out with friends and family and get involved with my community.
  • What we hope to do after high school: Go to college after high school and major in a career that involves helping others.

Raine Ryerson

Morgan County R-II High School, Versailles

  • Reason why I am a youth ambassador: I love to serve others and being an ambassador helps me to give back to my community while also allowing me to be a positive role model for young adults.
  • Favorite subject in school: Psychology. I love learning about how people’s minds function and how their thoughts can predict their actions.
  • Favorite thing to do outside of school: I love to run long distance. I train all Winter for track season in the Spring and I also run 5k races competitively.
  • What we hope to do after high school: I hope to either attend the United States Military Academy at West Point and major in Psychology, or attend the University of Missouri-St. Louis through an Army ROTC scholarship and major in Criminology.

Madeline Partridge

Eldon High School, Eldon

  • Reason why I am a youth ambassador: To get the word out to my community that underage drinking and drug use needs to stop. I believe that the best way to stop underage drinking and underage drug use is if the information comes from the peers of the teenagers who are making these choices.
  • Favorite subject in school: Any and all kinds of science. I find science so intriguing because every day we are finding new ways to save lives or a new species that we have never known before. Science is a way to figure out the ever-changing world around us and to better understand what we already know.
  • Favorite thing to do outside of school: I love to play basketball! I spend most of my weekends and every day after school practicing with my team to get better.
  • What we hope to do after high school: I am planning to go to college. Right now I am looking to get a degree in health sciences, but not 100% sure what I want to do yet.

 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.

MYAA Youth Ambassador Profiles: Krysta, Kara, and Krista

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 (https://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

  •  Reason why I am a youth ambassador: To share my opinion, and let others know it’s okay to make the right decision.
  • Favorite subject in school: English, I love reading and gaining new knowledge. Then, I love to write about everything I read about!
  • Favorite thing to do outside of school: Play softball and perform.
  • What we hope to do after high school: As of right now, go to college for Theater Education.

Kara Bernskoetter
Calvary Lutheran High School, Jefferson City

  • Reason why I am a youth ambassador: help the youth make positive choices and reach out to others.
  • Favorite Subject in school: Math because I like solving problems and it has great life applications.
  • Favorite thing to do outside of high school: play volleyball, shop, and be with my friends.
  • What I want to do after high school: attend Lincoln University.

Krista Stanford
Calvary Lutheran High School, Jefferson City

  • Reason why I am a youth ambassador: help other students be drug and alcohol free; connect with other students who want to do the same.
  • Favorite Subject in School: history, because i love learning new things and it’s intriguing.
  • Favorite thing to do outside of school: i enjoy being with my friends.
  • What I want to do after high school: go to Concordia University in Seward, Nebraska and pursue a degree in Elementary Education with an emphasis in Special Education.


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.

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