Help bridge the gap
Mariah Yates, posted Feb. 19, 2007
New CAFNR students have the opportunity to welcome prospective students to MU as a CAFNR Ambassador.
“One of our main missions is to bridge the gap between high school and college,” said Michael Ockerhausen, CAFNR ambassador team director. “Who knows it better than the students who recently went through the transition?”
Ambassadors can expect to attend college fairs and campus events, as well as make two or three high school visits per year. They also must maintain a 2.5 cumulative grade point average and attend weekly meetings.
“Important qualities for ambassadors to have are to be motivated self-starters, enthusiastic leaders and personable communicators with a professional image,” Ockerhausen said. “And maybe most important is to have a passion for CAFNR and Mizzou.”
The Ambassador team is looking for candidates with diverse backgrounds and experiences to reach out to prospective students.
Brent McCauley, an agribusiness management major and CAFNR ambassador, explained that much of the training ambassadors receive is about relating to different students. “At our summer retreat, we learned about winning others over, breaking the ice and other concepts related to getting to know prospective CAFNR students,” he said.
During weekly meetings, CAFNR representatives speak about their respective departments. “This just helps to keep the information fresh in our minds as we talk to high school students,” McCauley said. He also would advise that applicants remember to express their love of CAFNR and Mizzou in the application process.
According to Ockerhausen, there are about 15 positions to fill. All interested candidates can find an application in 2-64 Agriculture Building or on the CAFNR Web site under the "Getting Involved" heading in the current students section.
Students should return the completed application with a resume, by 5 p.m., Feb. 20, to 2-64 Agriculture Building. At this time, applicants should also sign up for an interview. Ockerhausen hopes to announce the new ambassadors the week of Feb. 26.
