Students serving as President’s Student Ambassadors are responsible for representing Kalamazoo College at its best. As student leaders, they serve as an extension of the president’s hospitality at events and gatherings, welcoming alumni and guests of the College with a spirit of inclusion.

Role and Responsibilities

Selection as a President’s Student Ambassador recognizes one as an exemplary Kalamazoo College student leader and provides them with extraordinary networking and social opportunities and experiences. Ambassadors are trained in hospitality and professional etiquette.

President’s Student Ambassadors possess characteristics allowing them to actively engage with alumni, parents and friends of the College. Successful Ambassadors:

• Are a sophomore, junior or senior during their year of service.
  • Students who are applying to serve during their junior year should be on campus during fall and winter quarter. If you are planning to study abroad or away during fall and winter quarters, please defer your application to Winter 2025.
  • Students who are applying to serve during their senior year should be able to serve their entire senior year.
• Understand and abide by the College’s Honor System.
• Maintain a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0.
• Convey the positive energy and spirit of Kalamazoo College via strong communication skills.
• Demonstrate leadership ability through academic life, student life and/or community service.
• Attend orientation early in Fall Quarter. Orientation is a requirement for participation and occurs during Second Week.
• Attend biweekly meetings with the program coordinator held on even weeks (2,4,6,8,10) during Monday Common Time from 11-11:45 a.m. during each academic quarter. These meetings provide professional development opportunities and updates on the latest College news. Meetings and orientation are requirements for participants. Ambassadors should be prepared to actively participate in meeting discussions. Meetings are a requirement for participation.
• Participate in events both on- and off-campus with President Gonzalez and/or other campus community leaders. Examples of these events include but are not limited to the President’s Community Breakfast (fall), Homecoming and Reunion Weekend receptions and alumni reunion dinners (fall), donor stewardship events (throughout the year), first-year convocation (September), senior class commencement (June), regional alumni events (throughout the year), Founders Day Celebration (spring) and meetings with the Alumni Association Engagement Board (spring). The number of annual events vary each year. Ambassadors will make every attempt to participate in as many events as possible.
• Write thank-you notes to alumni and event attendees.
• Prioritize orientation, meetings and events in your schedule.
• Attend the Spring Quarter dinner during Ninth or Tenth Week.
• Commit to a one-year appointment, subject to renewal after an annual assessment.
• Ambassadors serving during their senior year will also be asked to commit to a K volunteer opportunity as young alumni.

Application and Selection Process

Fifteen to eighteen students are selected to serve as President’s Student Ambassadors each academic year. Student recruitment begins during the winter quarter. Applications, interviews and selection occur during spring quarter.

Successful applicants will:

• Possess characteristics that will allow you to actively engage with alumni, parents and guests of the College.
• Be able to convey the positive energy and spirit of Kalamazoo College via strong communication skills.
• Demonstrate leadership ability through academic life, student life and/or community service.
• Maintain a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0.
• Remain in good disciplinary standing with the College.
• Be a sophomore, junior or senior in the year of service.
• Commit to attending orientation and all meetings and participate in events. Punctuality is important.

Apply Today

Providing a Reference?

Deadlines

• Extended to Sunday, February 25, 2024 at 11:59 p.m. ET: Your completed President’s Student Ambassador Application and completed Reference Request Form. Please note that two references are requested from faculty, staff, internship mentor, campus employer or student leader. Only one student leader reference is allowed.
• Wednesday, March 6, 2024 at 5 p.m. ET: Your two references should submit their recommendations by this date.

Applications will be reviewed and select candidates will be invited for interviews during Fourth and Fifth Weeks, Spring Quarter.

All new ambassadors will be invited to attend a meeting with current ambassadors during Ninth Week or Tenth Week. 

Please note: Interviews will be held in person. For students studying abroad or away, interviews will be conducted via Microsoft Teams video chat.

For More Information

If you would like to learn more about Kalamazoo College’s President’s Student Ambassadors program, please contact:

Laurel Palmer
Director, Kalamazoo College Fund
Coordinator, President’s Student Ambassadors program
lpalmer@kzoo.edu
269.337.7282