I’ve always had a passion for community-building, advocacy, and decision-making processes that shape our day-to-day lives. The Spartan Ambassador Program allowed me to take a more comprehensively active role in the Lansing area than the typical Michigan State student. So far, I have formed relationships with leaders in our city government, discovered local nonprofits, and tackled problems that I wouldn’t even be aware of if it weren’t for my role in the program.

This position was recommended to me because of my strong people skills and my sense of appreciation for this university as a nostalgic senior graduating in the spring. Being a Spartan Ambassador has not only allowed me to make connections with people and organizations in and around the Lansing area, but it’s also given me the opportunity to apply and expand on the skills that I’m interested in, like art and design. It’s exciting to know that I’m making a difference in the community that’s become my home over the last four years, and I can’t wait to see what we accomplish throughout this experience!

I applied to be a Spartan Ambassador because I wanted to learn more about community development and engagement in action, and to be able to give MSU students a voice. My focus in this internship is on DEI projects and initiatives, which includes making sure that all Ambassadors are being inclusive both in words and through actions, that our events that we organize are inclusive, and that underrepresented groups on campus are being heard and recognized. My favorite things about the Ambassador program are learning about pressing issues in the East Lansing community, which I'm able to do through attending various commission meetings in EL, going to diversity summits hosted by MSU to listen to student concerns, and meeting the city of East Lansing's leadership to learn more about the history of MSU and it's connection to the surrounding cities.

I decided to apply for this internship program because I wanted to feel more connected with other students here at MSU, and I wanted to give back to the community I am a part of. So far, I’ve really enjoyed being a voice for the on- and off-campus students that attend MSU. I’ve also been able to attend and engage in seminars and events associated with the residents and students in East Lansing. This internship has given me the chance to learn how we can solve problems, grow together, and improve as a community.

I chose to apply to be a Spartan Ambassador because I care about the MSU and greater Lansing community, and I wanted to be more engaged with it. I also have always taken interest in being involved with voting, protests, and other forms of political involvement. In this position, my focus is civic engagement, so I’ve had the opportunity to be a part of MSUvote on campus! I have really enjoyed my experience so far, and I’m excited to see what else I can accomplish as an Ambassador!

I decided to become a Spartan Ambassador because I used to participate in community work within my church, and I felt that the mission trips and service that I had done helped me become the person I am today. I found myself falling away from community work when I came to college, but being a Spartan Ambassador has given me the chance to rekindle that aspect of my life. Now, I feel more involved with the community, and I’m able to help others navigate through city in college life in East Lansing at the same time.

I chose this internship position because I think that being a voice for those who can’t or aren’t ready to use theirs is so important. Being a Spartan Ambassador has helped me gain a better understanding of what is going on in the community. This not only makes me feel safer in my own daily life, but it also allows me to have a part in bettering the community around me. So far, being an Ambassador has given me the chance to attend housing meetings for local East Lansing neighborhoods, and I’ve also been in the process of organizing a campus clean-up with one of my fellow interns. This internship helps me to grow within myself while also improving the community I live in.

As a Spartan Ambassador with a focus in community engagement, I have found that I like integrating myself into the community around me. I have gotten to know people and visit places that are often overlooked by people that just consider themselves a student and not a member of the greater East Lansing area, and it’s been rewarding having a bigger role in this community.