Date: September 10, 2012
Author: Karen Andrews
Contact: Karen Andrews, karena@uga.edu

The Grady Ambassadors, a group of Grady students who represent the College at internal and external events, are looking to expand their presence on campus with new activities and events designed to benefit students and the College. In addition to assisting with annual events like homecoming and convocation, this year's group hopes to launch a Grady senior gift program, student appreciation day, peer advising and mentoring and professional development programs.

"We have an outstanding, diverse group of students, and I'm ecstatic about the upcoming year," said Karen Andrews, Ambassadors adviser and Grady's special events and marketing coordinator.

The group plans to host a student appreciation day this spring. The event will give the Grady student body a chance to meet Dean Cully Clark and other Grady students, as well as an opportunity to express any questions, concerns or comments about their program, professor or class.

"As a Grady Ambassador, I hope to excite new students about the rare and unique opportunities they would have as a Grady major at the University of Georgia," said Mamie Shepherd, a senior digital and broadcast news major. "I am still as passionate about our programs as the day I started three years ago."

The Ambassadors are working to make this year better than ever before.

"I'm thrilled with the opportunity that the Grady Ambassadors program has given me to represent our school in the manner it deserved," said Tommy McConnell, a senior advertising major. "Grady is one of the most historically important schools in communication, and giving back to it is just as important to me as being a part of it. Being an Ambassador enables me to do just that."

The goal of the Ambassadors program is to present a positive and lasting image of the College and its students to all constituents of the College, including alumni, parents, prospective students, corporate partners, friends, potential donors and employers.

"Being a Grady Ambassador is a great opportunity to get to know Grady students from other majors that you might not meet in class or in other activities," said Laynie Rose, an Ambassador and senior magazines major. "We spend a lot of our time showing off the college to alumni and prospective students. Grady students make that easy to do by being so involved in and passionate about their majors."

The 22 Grady Ambassadors for the 2012-13 academic year are Elizabeth Bertrand (public relations, '14), Alison Kate Bridges (mass media arts, '13), Joshua Buce (digital and broadcast journalism '13), Robin Chang (advertising, '13), Meredith Dean (digital and broadcast journalism, '14), Ashley Derrington (mass media arts, '12), Ankit Desai (advertising, '13), Montez Flenoury (public relations, '13), Scott Franzen (public relations, '12), Allison Goldstein (magazine journalism emphasis, '13), Cory James (digital and broadcast journalism '14), Nina Kamber (magazine journalism emphasis '13), Tommy McConnell (advertising, '13), Cody Nichelson (public relations, '14), Brittany Nicholson (digital and broadcast news, '12), Laynie Rose (magazine journalism emphasis, '12), Cylla Senii (advertising, '13), Mamie Shepherd (digital and broadcast journalism '13), Aspen Smith (public relations, '12), DeeDee Sulmers (public affairs journalism emphasis, '13), Amber Thomas (mass media arts, '13), and Elyse Tremble (public relations, '13).