WINTERVILLE—Pitt Community College’s newest group of student ambassadors is participating in leadership training this month in preparation for their responsibilities during the 2024-25 academic year.
Of the 10-member group, six are returning for a second year with the ambassadors program and four are newcomers. In exchange for PCC Foundation scholarships covering the cost of full-time in-state tuition and fees, they will perform weekly service hours on campus, assist college staff with recruiting, and help out during Pitt-related events and Foundation fundraisers. They must maintain at least a 3.2 GPA and full-time enrollment status.
Returning for a second year as ambassadors are Amy Rose Arriaga, Alison Beaman, Kaitlyn Dunn, Penelope Rouse, Alexis Satchell and Alexander Williford. Kayla Clifton, Jeff Harris, Kenya Lopez and Tyler Ward are entering their first year with the program. Though the students are similar in age, they represent seven different eastern North Carolina counties: Beaufort, Dare, Edgecombe, Johnston, Lenoir, Pitt and Washington.
Started in 1992, the PCC Student Ambassador program is highly competitive, offering a select group of students each year opportunities for developing social, organizational and leadership skills through service to Pitt and the PCC Foundation. Students must apply for participation, and the 10-12 selected annually receive professional attire to wear during official college events.
As part of their training Aug. 7-9, ambassadors will participate in team-building exercises and learn about PCC’s history. They’ll complete a personality style assessment, practice public speaking skills, learn how to lead campus tours, and meet with college administrators.
One ambassador eager to get the new academic year started is Arriaga, a business administration student from Kinston. She served as a tour guide for the Office of Recruitment and First-Year Experience during her first year as an ambassador and utilized her bilingual skills to assist with several recruiting initiatives aimed at serving the area’s Spanish-speaking population. She also participated in an on-campus Hispanic Heritage Month celebration as a dancer and led a drive to benefit the Carolina Pregnancy Center.
“Amy is a shining example of what the student experience at Pitt Community College can provide,” says PCC Director of Recruitment and First-Year Experience John Carrere. “While she started out shy and very reserved, she has shown me and those fortunate enough to know her that she is passionate, fun-loving, outgoing and dependable.”
Coming out of Greenville Christian Academy in 2022, Arriaga says she chose to attend PCC because of its quality programming and opportunities for campus involvement. In an interview with PCC Media Relations this summer, she talked about her first year as an ambassador and what she is hoping for in the one to come.
Q: What is your favorite part about being a PCC Student Ambassador?
A: “Every time people ask me this question, I get excited, because there are so many things about the Ambassador Program that I enjoy. One thing that stands out is the opportunity we’re given to help the community. From day one, the first thing we needed to do was collect school items for kids attending Pitt County Schools. Even though we never got a chance to meet the kids who received the items, I was happy to help out with the project.”
Q: Does any particular event/moment stand out from your first year with the program?
A: “With the ambassador program, I had the opportunity to help with the ‘Let’s Connect’ event in which ECU and PCC partnered to hold it on the Pitt campus. During the event, I was one of the speakers giving information about both Pitt and ECU. The best part is that I was doing it in Spanish, giving that information and access to those who do not know English well enough to request more information.”
Q: What is the most difficult aspect of being a student ambassador at Pitt?
A: “I don’t think being a student ambassador is difficult. We just need to remember, as our advisors explained to us, that we represent the school, and that is a responsibility I am proud to have.”
Q: What are some of the key leadership and/or life lessons you have learned through the PCC Student Ambassador Program?
A: “One lesson is the impact we can make by starting small with ourselves, then expanding to our friend group, then our school, then the community, and then more. We should feel compelled to help others, and as a team, we did. Stepping out of my comfort zone was another lesson. I could see the change I wanted and that I needed to do something to make it happen.”
Q: Why is community service such an important aspect of the PCC Student Ambassador Program?
A: “It’s beneficial for us to stop thinking solely about ourselves and to help others. Some projects that started out as just another assignment we needed to do ended with so much joy, which turned out to be more rewarding than anything else.”
Q: How do you feel your participation in the PCC Student Ambassador Program will help you in your future career?
A: “I believe my ambassador participation will open doors of opportunity for me in the future. Without this program, I wouldn’t have discovered that I am capable of so much more than I thought previously. The key to change was getting out of my comfort zone.”
Q: Anything else you would like to add about yourself and/or your participation in the ambassador’s program?
A: “The ambassador program is an opportunity to grow as an individual. We have amazing advisors who are there for us every step of the way. I enjoyed the things we did in my first year with the program so much that if I had the chance to do them again and learn the lessons I learned and make the impact we made, I would. We set a high standard as a group last year, and I would like for this upcoming year to be even better and raise the bar once more for future ambassadors. Being part of the PCC Student Ambassador program has been a blessing in my life and I look forward to doing my best to serve the college this upcoming year.”