This summer, Livingston Manor High School piloted a Youth Ambassador Program with the goal of increasing student representation in school policies, programs and in the local community.
Ciarra Staudt, Jordyn Jones, Frances Ball and Michelle McKinley, working with advisers Jillian Hoag and Susan Norton, spent the summer working to address ways to increase student attendance at school by providing events that connect the school experiences of students to real world scenarios.
Their top goal was to expose students to the wide range of careers that are available in Sullivan County and beyond. The career event kicked off with a spirit week, which included a scavenger hunt that asked students to match staff members in the building with their dream job. Every staff member was asked the question, “If I didn’t work in a school, my dream job would be…”. The responses were placed on bingo boards used in the scavenger hunt. Students were also asked to dress as their favorite teacher and to dress as a professional.
On Nov. 21, from 8:30 to 11:30 a.m., students in grades 7-12 were invited by grade level to the new gymnasium and given time to meet with the presenters.
Using the theme of “Passport to Success,” the students were provided with student-created passports. As students went around to the tables of the presenters and asked questions, they were given the opportunity to collect “stamps” for their passports, which had facts including salary, education needed for the profession, skills and character traits needed to perform the career, as well as benefits and challenges of each career. These facts were provided before the event by the presenters.
The Youth Ambassadors also created a guide for students with tips on the process of how to get working papers, how to fill out a resume, how to interview for a job and suggestions of where to find a local job.
Presenters were Livingston Manor Volunteer Ambulance, Sullivan County 911, Manor Ink, Jill C. Smith, Cornell Cooperative Extensions, Jeff Bank, Turning Stone Enterprises, the state Department of Environmental Conservation, Future Farmers of America, the U.S. Marines, the U.S. Army, the Roscoe Rehabilitation Center, Garnet Health Nursing program, New Hope Community, the New York State Unified Court System via Supreme Court Judge Hon. Meagan Galligan and her confidential secretary Jennifer Luna, Pfizer Pharmaceuticals, Calo Fitness LLC, Public Safety and Fire Coordinators, the Sullivan County Manager’s Office, and Center for Workplace Development. Assemblywoman Aileen Gunther was also able to attend to show her support to students and presenters.
Sponsored by the Livingston Manor administration and the Livingston Manor Parent Teacher Student Association, the day was a huge success, organizers said.
The Youth Ambassadors plan on putting on another Career Day during the 2024-25 school year.