The Marion County Public Schools Student Ambassador program will welcome twelve new members for the 2025-2026 school year.
“Once again, we had some incredible applicants and we’re very excited to welcome these twelve students to join what continues to be a really meaningful student leadership program,” MCPS Student Ambassador advisor Jason Simpson said.
The new members include: rising sophomores Emma Sexton, Katie Mattingly, Talis Hazelwood, Raini Sidebottom, Eli Albright, Alani Wheatley, Lila Bickett, and Luiza Costa; and rising seniors Deona Shively, Parita Patel, Lila Filiatreau, and Sarah Ford.
The new members, along with the returning student ambassadors, will serve as student spokespeople for the school district as they represent MCPS at community and school events.
Among their responsibilities, the MCPS Student Ambassadors regularly speak at Board of Education meetings updating board members on things happening in the school district from the students’ perspective.
Each year, the MCPS Student Ambassadors host the Young Leaders Conference where they invite elementary and middle school students for a day of sessions on building leadership and soft skills. The group also sponsors an MCPS Teacher of the Year program where they present awards to one elementary and one secondary teacher.
The program is now in its twelfth year.