2008-2009 Ambassador of the Year

The third year of the ISEP Ambassador program was a great success with dozens of returning students volunteering at their home universities and throughout the ISEP network to help other students go abroad and welcome incoming students to their campuses.

In reviewing the Ambassadors' activity logs and reports as well as Coordinator feedback, it was quite impressive to see the dedication of these creative students. Though a most difficult decision, we are very pleased to name the recipient of the 2008-2009 ISEP Ambassador of the Year.

We are very pleased to announce the ISEP Ambassador of the Year for 2008-2009, David Kirk of Edinburgh Napier University. David was an exchange student at Bellarmine University, Kentucky from 2007 to 2008, where he participated in a learning experience that matured him and provided him with a well rounded character.

Although there were many creative contributions from many of the ISEP Student Ambassadors, David was chosen as Ambassador of the Year for his exceptional commitment and enthusiasm in helping the ISEP students on campus and his dedication to promoting ISEP to students at his home university. Some highlights from his ambassador year include:

• Assisting the International Office in preparing welcome packs for incoming students.
• Preparing promotional material and information packets.
• Helping incoming participants prepare for arrival and settle into the host university.
• Participating in several fairs to promote study abroad awareness.
• Talking with freshman orientation classes about his ISEP experience and how they can do the same.
• Attending official welcome sessions for incoming students.
• Organizing six Pub Nights with over 250 attendees.
• Organizing a small trip to his hometown for incoming students.
• Organizing and leading an Edinburgh Pub Crawl.
• Regularly participating in the main ISEP Facebook group and responding to students' emails
• Maintaining frequent communication and professionalism with his home ISEP Coordinator.

David commented:

"My responsibility as an ISEP Ambassador was split into two areas over the past year. Part of what I did involved promoting study abroad opportunities, meeting with students and advising them how to go about applying and supporting our students who were already out on exchange mostly through email. The second area I took responsibility for was welcoming all of the incoming students to Edinburgh Napier University."

Besides achieving these goals he also succeeded on other levels. "On a personal level I am coming away from the experience with many more friends. The role of Ambassador has challenged my time management skills, public speaking ability and event management skills to name just a few. It has develoSped me as an individual and I am excited to continue promoting ISEP and encouraging my fellow students to study abroad in the future."

ISEP is also extremely pleased to have David return as a Ambassador next year. ISEP is not the only one excited of his return. Claire Hope, the ISEP coordinator at Edinburgh Napier University, wrote David a particularly strong letter of recommendation based on his outstanding contributions to the International Office and ISEP and says, "We have increased the number of ISEP applications quite significantly this year, and I believe this is in a big way directly related to Dave's outstanding efforts...This year has been a very important time for him with his internship, but he has gone that extra mile on several occasions to assist us in what has been a challenging year for the University."

Thank you, David, for all your contributions and congratulations! As ISEP Ambassador of the Year, David will be awarded a gift of $500, an ISEP pen, and a certificate of appreciation.

Joanne Kramb
ISEP Marketing

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