The best ambassadors for any university are its students, and plenty of ISU students will represent Iowa State in recruiting the 2002 entering class.

The Office of Admissions has three programs for student ambassadors – Student Admissions Representatives, Cyclone Aides and Destination Iowa State team leaders.

Elizabeth Kurt, orientation director of new student programs, said all three positions involve bringing prospective students to Iowa State.

The Student Admissions Representatives, or STARS, participate in Experience Iowa State programs, campus tours, open houses and student panels, answering questions about the university.

Cyclone Aides primarily assist prospective students who come for orientations. Destination Iowa State teams leaders introduce new ISU students to the student life in Ames, making sure they know where to get necessities and how to get things done.

Kurt said the positions are wonderful leadership opportunities in which students can commit as much time as they prefer.

“It is not inconceivable for any student to have positions in all three of the leadership programs within a year,” she said.

Kurt said students from all walks of life are needed to represent the population of the university. Minorities, transfers and adult students were among past participants. Also, students of any year in school are welcome to apply, she said.

“The year that they have the passion for Iowa State – that’s the year we want,” Kurt said.

Maura Flaschner, program coordinator for admissions, said the idea of students recruiting students has an added benefit whenever the participants get to form connections with new students from their own hometowns.

“All of the sudden, this large university doesn’t feel so large anymore,” she said.

The visitors usually ask questions about student life, which are better answered by students themselves, Flaschner added.

“It’s the students who are out there eating, drinking and sleeping the university every day,” she said.

These positions give students a chance to develop public relations and communication skills, Flaschner said.

“Those are the things we work on with them,” she said. “We don’t expect everybody is going to be an eloquent public speaker. We understand these are the things we can help them with.”

Kurt said participants attend meetings, training sessions and retreats that let them mingle with other participants and converse with guest speakers from the university.

Marcus Johnson, senior in child and family services, has participated in STARS, Cyclone Aides and Destination Iowa State. He is in his fourth year in the programs.

“As a freshman, I was just looking for activities that are lots of fun,” he said.

Johnson said he got the opportunity to learn about Iowa State’s history and traditions, and he said his involvement in the programs improved his public speaking skills and confidence.

Denise Williams, sophomore in psychology, enjoyed her stint as a Cyclone Aide. She thinks the training given was intense and useful.

“The best thing about it is when you learn so much about the university, you feel much more a part of it,” she said.

Flaschner said there are a lot of ISU students who are passionate about the university and would like to share that enthusiasm with others.

Although some of the positions are volunteer work, the experience in the programs does lead to jobs. Both Kurt and Flaschner found themselves frequently writing recommendations for past participants.

“It’s just getting tremendous experience,” Flaschner said, “and having a good time.”