SOE Ambassador Program

 

What is an SOE Ambassador?

A School of Education (SOE) Ambassador is a current student (undergraduate or graduate) who volunteers to serve as a representative of the SOE and provides peer-to-peer perspectives to prospective students and their families. Ambassadors help tell the story of the SOE while hosting and participating in a wide variety of in-person and virtual events, including tours, open houses, read alouds, community development events, social and networking opportunities, and more.

SOE Ambasssadors will also support communications and outreach efforts by producing podcast episodes in collaboration with the SOE Dean. The Voices of Alaskan Educators podcast seeks to identify and elevate the perspectives of Alaskan Educators, especially UAA alumni, in short, engaging storytelling formats. 

The SOE selects up to 10 SOE Ambassadors, drawing upon the current student population to select six undergraduate and four graduate students each year. While most SOE Ambassadors are based in the Anchorage/Mat-Su area, supporting in-person events,  other SOE Ambassadors live around the state of Alaska and the U.S., supporting virtual programming and events local to them. 

Benefits and expectations of being an SOE Ambassador

SOE Ambassadors are expected to work six service events with SOE Dean’s Office staff during the upcoming academic year (fall, spring, or summer). Service events include recruiting fairs, public events, regional conferences, SOE Literacy Lounge programs, Enhanced Green and Gold tours, and other UAA special events. These events are opportunities to provide information to the community about SOE programs and degrees, network with faculty and staff, and promote academic excellence. 

SOE Ambassadors are provided opportunities to develop communication and leadership skills, strengthen professionalism and establish working relations with UAA faculty, students, staff, alums, and friends. Other benefits to SOE Ambassadors include:

• An embroidered vest or polo shirt to wear during UAA events
• A $200 scholarship applied to the term of their choice in the upcoming academic year

How to Become an SOE Ambassador

All students currently admitted to a UAA SOE degree program (Early Childhood Education, Educational Leadership, Language & Literacy Education, Special Education, or Teaching & Learning) are eligible to apply to the SOE Ambassador program. Applicants must be enrolled in at least one class each semester and maintain a minimum GPA according to the table below:

SOE Ambassador applications typically open after Spring Break and are due this year on April 15th.  The  24-25 SOE Ambassador selections will be announced at the annual SOE Exchange on the Friday before Commencement, May 3rd.  

Applications

The SOE Ambassador application has two parts. Part 1 is a Google Form to collect basic information about each applicant and responses to three written questions. Part 2 is a Flip grid to collect video responses to three additional questions. You must be signed in to Google and Flip with your UAA username to access and submit the application components.

The final section of Part 1 includes the details to access and submit Part 2. If you have issues with the application, please contact Darlene MacKinnon with questions.

SUBMIT AN APPLICATION

Tips for Completing the Application

To help you prepare for the application, consider the following questions and how you would respond:

1. Why did you choose UAA?
2. What does it mean to you to be a Seawolf?
3. Why do you want to work in education?
4. If you could change one thing about public education, what would it be?
5. What does it mean to you to be a student ambassador?
6. What valuable skills and experience do you bring to this position?

The faculty and staff evaluators will review your application for evidence of high-quality responses that tell a story or create a picture of enthusiasm and passion, demonstrate professionalism, and effectively communicate your perspective.

Flip Grid

To complete Part 2 on Flip, you must launch the grid from the end of Part 1. We recommend you use your UAA Google Account to sign in to the app. If prompted, indicate that you are a Student. Note that video responses are limited to two minutes in length. You can re-record as many times as necessary before submitting, and other applicants cannot see your submissions. Make sure to hit the NEXT button after recording so your response can upload successfully.