Lessons in Leadership

Student Ambassadors bridge the gap between HCHS and the community.

It sometimes starts with a handshake. Other times a song as Freshmen enter the school for the first time. Yet, it always ends with the same goal: representing the best that Henderson County High School has to offer. The smile, song, and handshake all represent the HCHS Student Ambassadors.

HCHS Student Ambassadors bridge the gap between the high school and the community. They give tours of the high school, speak with elementary school students, assist with the senior citizen prom, help with middle school scheduling, provide support for the staff opening day, attend Rotary meetings each week, and participate in community/school events. As you can imagine, a lot of this time is after school hours. Each and every ambassador is committed to the program and they all have a sense of citizenship in regards to both the school and the community. The student ambassadors are friendly, professional, and welcoming to everyone they interact with.

Since its conception in 2009, Student Ambassadors have seen steady growth and participation among students. In 2010 there were 18 graduates; this year they have 46. This year’s junior class already has 67 applicants.

Alumni still remember what being a student ambassador meant to them. Matthew Mortis, a nurse with St. Vincent Health in Evansville and 2012 HCHS graduate, reflects on his experience. “Being an ambassador allowed me to understand the importance of good leadership and how small groups can make big changes. Being an ambassador provided the opportunity for me to be comfortable with public speaking. This is such an important tool for individuals, especially for a nurse.” His most cherished part of the program was the camaraderie he felt and still feels with other ambassadors and the advisors.

HCHS teacher and student ambassador coordinator, Conner Mattingly, was actually in the first class of graduating Student Ambassadors in 2010. When Mrs. Kellen asked him to become a sponsor of the program he was ecstatic. “I credit some of the life lessons learned in Student Ambassadors to my success today. I want to be able to give back and teach the students how to be held accountable, shake hands, advocate for themselves, and much more.”

When the program started, there were a few non-negotiables from the outset:

1. You must be sincere in your belief that HCHS is an awesome school; acknowledge we’re not perfect, but choose to build on our strengths in order to diminish our weaknesses

2. Tardiness is inexcusable.

3. You must learn to give proper handshakes.

4. When acting in an official capacity, you must be willing to do the right thing when no one is watching, or most challenging – when people who might want you to make different choices are watching.

The program is also an excellent opportunity for students to exemplify Henderson County School’s world class traits. You may have heard of Henderson’s new initiative HCS+ Building a Better Graduate to instill certain characteristics in all students. Those traits are: communication, collaboration, innovations, initiative, and critical thinking. On every outing, event, or circumstance the Student Ambassadors epitomize those traits in their representation of Henderson County High School. The program is student led and students take ownership of their role.

In the Student Ambassador program’s inception, Mr. Mattingly recalls the events, “In 2008, Amy Kellen was part of a site visit to Graves County High School. They had an ambassador program, and Amy was intent on bringing one to HCHS. In January 2009, Dana Guess (blue unit principal at the time) and Mrs. Kellen were chaperoning students to the inauguration in D.C., and on the bus ride home, she asked, ‘Is there anything I can help you with at school?’ Amy told her she’d been wanting to get this ambassador thing off the ground, and that is where this journey began. They saw it as an opportunity to reach out to the community, get people in our building, and be able to show the ‘real’ HCHS.”

Lauren Alexander, a current Student Ambassador says, “I decided to become an ambassador because I am passionate about what this program contributes to the culture of our school. I enjoy having the opportunity to be a representative of HCHS and take part in the behind-the-scenes work of important events that are critical to the school’s success.”

From current students of the program, past graduates, and to Mr. Mattingly, the mission of the Student Ambassador program has resonated “serve as the face of the high school, and through outreach and our work in our schools and in our community, we are singularly focused on demonstrating what we know to be true: HCHS is full of amazing students, and we are the best high school in Kentucky.”