Montgomery College ACES Ambassador Leadership Program
Description/Mission:
The mission of the Montgomery College (MC) ACES Ambassador Leadership Program (AALP) is to build a synergistic community of principle-based leaders within our ACES student team.
As we re-emerge from the debilitating times of the pandemic, our new world is in desperate need of true leaders with empowering life skills and strong values to “include and collaborate”. Prominent leaders from our MC family of professors and students, as well as in the Washington Metropolitan area are slated as guest speakers to share their authentic experiences in those careers that you are working towards in your educational journey here at Montgomery College. We also believe strongly that to lead others, one must be a leader of oneself first; only then can one go into our challenging world and help change the world for “the better”. We’ll have discussions during our bi-monthly meetings about leaders past and present, debating what new leadership skills in our ever-changing world will help solve and heal.
This year, we’ll kickoff Year 5 of our leadership program by reading and discussing our views of our US Constitution, a 4,440-word roadmap, composed 235 years ago by members of the Constitutional Convention, establishing America’s national government, fundamental laws, and basic rights for its citizens. Together, we’ll visit the original Constitution in the Rotunda for the Charters of Freedom in National Archives Museum in Washington, DC .
Ultimately, we’ll continue to address as to how each of us can be leaders in the future – whether it be a civic duty, or as leaders in our fields in our future careers as nurses, public health officials, teachers, scientists, artists, etc. Our fall and spring workshop discussions will address the inequities and inequalities that have hindered our growth as a true community/nation, as well as a renewed look at what gives our “future leaders” momentum to excel and feel integral in building a community dedicated to rejoicing in diversity and differences.
ACES Ambassadors will also learn how to present themselves as effective public speakers (as a solo presenter as well as being part of a panel), and tweak their writing skills (especially for cover letters and presentations).
Student Responsibilities:
- Attend 6 hybrid meetings (both in-person and online) per fall & spring semester; In-person meetings will occur at the new Student Services Building on the RV campus.
- Speak/participate in 2 community engagement events;
- Volunteer at ACES programs (end of semester/year events);
- Help educate prospective students and the community about the ACES program through Zoom and “in person” meetings;
- Share ACES experiences as members of student/community panels, alongside ACES MC student ambassadors and ACES staff
- Have fun and build a supportive community which will last beyond your years here at Montgomery College!
Benefits of Participating in the MC ACES Ambassador Leadership Program:
- Expand leadership, public speaking, active listening and customer service skills, and achieve community involvement while working with ACES coaches, staff and guest speakers;
- Empower oneself to create an impact on future ACES students’ education by sharing their personal experiences and mentoring;
- Receive direction and support towards applying/landing Summer (paid) internships;
- Be a part of a close-knit community committed to sharing one’s sense of pride in our growing ACES program.
Please note: MC ACES Ambassadors receive a small honorarium at the end of each semester when completing all requirements of the AALP program; our High School ACES Ambassadors will receive 21 hours of Student Service Learning hours per semester.
MC ACES Ambassador Leadership Program Criteria:
- Must be an ACES student currently enrolled in Montgomery College; or a high school senior at Paint Branch High School or Blake High School;
- GPA of 3.0 or higher strongly preferred;
- Attend 90% of ambassador meetings and events.
ACES Paint Branch High School AND Blake High School Seniors Join MC ACES Ambassador Leadership Program
Since Spring, 2021 we invited ACES seniors from Paint Branch High School to apply to our MC ACES Ambassador Leadership Program. Because of the exceptional students in the program and the added value they bring to our program, we are inviting our ACES students from Blake High School to join our Ambassador team this fall, 2022. Therefore, approximately 5 sensational seniors will be chosen from each high school to participate in our MC ACES Ambassador monthly meetings to discuss the roles/responsibilities of leadership, and sharpen public speaking skills. Responsibilities included attendance and active participation in monthly meetings, as well as community service at ACES spring Orientation program.
This program serves as a pathway to our ACES MC Ambassador Program.
Are You Interested in Joining Our ACES Ambassador Leadership Program?
The ACES Ambassador Leadership Program application is now closed. For more information about the program, please email Ms. Gina Marrazza, Coordinator, ACES Student Ambassador Program at gina.dimediomarrazza@montgomerycollege.edu.