Student Ambassador Program

Leadership is a characteristic that everyone has. It means to be brave and be yourself, but also to help other people find themselves and help them grow. —Jordyn, Student Ambassador

This is the ultimate experience for Los Angeles County high school students who love the arts: an entirely free, eight-month fully-virtual program designed to transform passionate young people into arts leaders, team players, advocates, and engagement experts.

No arts, theatre, or leadership experience is required to participate! We're looking for Student Ambassadors with curiosity and commitment, enthusiasm and perseverance. Participants are divided into groups with long-term projects and goals, like designing public programs and social media campaigns to uplift the voices of next generation theatre artists.

In the Student Ambassador Program, we aim to create a supportive learning environment where we can be our whole selves; we encourage wellness, embrace and encourage differences, and focus on principles of equity, diversity, and inclusion throughout the program.

Program runs October 2020 – May 2021.
The application for the 2020-2021 Student Ambassador program is now closed.

Participation is free! And in fact, we offer a stipend to our students!

Program Information

Eligibility

Arts-interested high school students ages 14-18 who reside in Los Angeles County are eligible to apply. No theatre or leadership experience is required. We accept applicants from public, private, and charter schools, as well as students who are home-schooled and those who attend alternative or continuation schools. Only one student from each school will be selected to represent their campus and community.

Location and Virtual Program Access

All meetings and events will take place via the Zoom virtual platform for the entire duration of the program; participants will need access to a Wi-Fi enabled device such as a personal laptop or cell phone and will be required to set up a free Zoom account to participate. CTG cannot provide laptops or cell phones for program access. However, students who need support with Wi-Fi access are eligible for a complimentary Wi-Fi hotspot available during the course of the program, only.

Program Committment

This is an eight-month, approximately 60-hour virtual program.* Students and parents/guardians, please check all dates below to be sure you’re able to participate, and do not apply if you cannot come to every session; missing more than one session will result in removal from the program. Consider the following conflicts before applying: after-school activity schedules in both the fall and spring semesters, festivals, family vacations, college planning trips, and mandatory scholarship or school events.

*In an effort to minimize the amount of time on Zoom, team meetings are limited to 2 hours and students will be required to complete at least 1 hour of program-related course work on their own time, between meetings, resulting in a total of 60 program hours.

All Ambassadors are required to attend the following:

• Wed-Fri, October 7, 8, 9, 4-6pm — Group Interviews (you will be assigned one of these dates)
• Saturday, October 24, 11am-1:30pm — Orientation*
• Monday, October 26, 4-6pm — Team Meeting
• Mondays, November 9 & 23, 4-6pm — Team Meetings
• Mondays, December 7 & 14, 4-6pm — Team Meetings
• Mondays, January 11 & 25, 4-6pm — Team Meetings
• Monday, February 8 & 22, 4-6pm — Team Meetings
• Monday, March 8 & 22, 4-6pm — Team Meetings
• Monday, April 5 & 19, 4-6pm — Team Meetings
• Date TBD, late-April or early-May 2021 — Present Project (TBD)
• Monday, May 3, 4-6pm — Team Meeting
• Saturday, May 8, 2-5pm — Culmination Celebration*

*Parents/Guardians and teachers are invited to attend the Orientation and Culmination

All Ambassadors must attend one of the following events:

• Tuesday, March 9, 2021 — August Wilson Monologue Competition (virtual/time TBD)
• Saturday, March 20, 2021 — College and Career Fair for the Arts (virtual/time TBD)

In addition, Student Ambassadors will be required to attend a virtual playwriting/monologue workshop with students and theatre artists; students will observe the creative process, to inform their project design, and may have the option to participate if desired.

Please note: If you are selected as a Student Ambassador, you may not participate in the August Wilson Monologue Competition, though you are welcome to apply for both programs. If selected, Student Ambassadors are eligible to apply and if selected, participate in the Teen Theatregoers Program.

Project Teams

Each Student Ambassador will work on one of these teams and with Center Theatre Group staff to design a project focused on uplifting the voices of next generation writers and performers, inspired by the legacy of the renowned theatre playwright August Wilson. The event will take place between late-April and early May, 2021. In your personal statement, you’ll need to tell us which team appeals to you the most.

Marketing & Social Media Team

Do you like to promote events? Interested in learning how to develop a social media campaign to support the arts and empower the next generation of artists? The Marketing & Social Media Team will work with theatre professionals to design digital communication resources and marketing strategies for a project to uplift and give a voice to young emerging artists. This team is great for students interested in marketing and encouraging people to support the arts. Experience in marketing or social media is not required.

Theatre Arts Program Development Team

Do you like you like to plan events that celebrate your fellow artists? Interested in learning how to produce programs for the public and support next generation theatre artists? The Arts Program Development Team will work with experts to design a theatre-related project inspired by the legacy of the playwright August Wilson. This team is great for students interested in event and program planning and engaging the public in theatre. Experience in event planning or producing arts programs is not required.

The application for the 2020-2021 Student Ambassador program is now closed.