City of Bowling Green announces first Downtown Ambassador Academy cohort

BOWLING GREEN, Ky.  – The City of Bowling Green is announcing its inaugural cohort of the Downtown BGKY Ambassador Program.

According to a release Thursday, the city says the free program connects Western Kentucky University students with “leadership, community services and professional development opportunities” in the downtown area.

The program offers sessions featuring nonprofits, arts, entertainment, civic engagement, government services, business and economic development and leadership. Students will meet community leaders, gain hands-on experience at venues and events and complete a capstone project benefiting downtown.

This initiative also partners with the Bowling Green Area Chamber of Commerce, downtown businesses and local attractions.

The goal of this program, according to the city, is to “strengthen ‘Down(town) to Gown’ connections, encouraging WKU graduates to build careers and their lives locally, creating a growing alumni network of engaged young leaders.

According to the city, 53 applicants were reviewed by a panel of city and WKU staff. Representing all five WKU academic colleges and more than 16 fields of study, the following group of 24 students, along with their majors and minors, have been selected for the pilot class of Downtown BGKY Ambassadors:

● Allison Clark, strategic marketing, with graphic design.

● Daryl Action II, communication, with graphic design, advertising.

● Emma Harris, international affairs, Chinese, English, with psychological sciences.

● Rachael Erhman, biology: concentration in ecology, wildlife, conservation.

● Marissa Mudd, international affairs and political science, with criminology.

● Su Meh, accounting.

● Lyndsi Marcum, strategic marketing, with global business.

● Kennedy Vogler, biochemistry, with biophysics, neuroscience.

● Bella Chittenden, business data analytics, with finance, applied data analytics, AI.

● Sarah McClanahan, meteorology, with emergency management disaster science.

● Xavier Spiess, professional legal studies and English.

● Filsan Aweys, healthcare administration.

● Steven “Gage” Czirr, sports management, with broadcasting.

● Ella Knois, hospitality management.

● Wyatt Wassom, finance and professional legal studies, with business economics.

● Nico Lundy, social media marketing, with global business.

● Emily Oden, communicationsciences and disorders, with marketing.

● Emma Huskey, biology and chemistry.

● Kelci Morrison, marketing: concentration in sales, organizational leadership, managing inclusive organizations.

● Jackson Houchens, marketing: concentration in sales.

● Brandon Brion, biology and Chinese, with chemistry, Asian religion andculture, biophysics.

● Madison Gardner, computer science.

● Veronica Butler, international affairs, Chinese, political science.

● Camila Zammaron, biology, with business administration and chemistry.

Congratulations to all! The Academy kickoff and orientation is Oc. 21.