PENNSYLVANIA — The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) and Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful (KPB) have announced the 2023-2024 cohort of Young Ambassadors of Pennsylvania. The program, administered by KPB, seeks to inspire, engage, and empower young Pennsylvanians to become community stewards and civic leaders, advocating for clean and beautiful communities across the state.
Students were chosen through a competitive application process and have committed to eight months of service as ambassadors from October 2023 through May 2024. During this period, they will develop civic leadership skills and experience while representing and upholding the mission and values of KPB.
The 2023-2024 Young Ambassadors include students from various high schools across Pennsylvania, including Highlands High School in Allegheny County, Wilson High School in Berks County, Bensalem High School in Bucks County, B. Reed Henderson High School in Chester County, Mechanicsburg Area Senior High School in Cumberland County, The Grayson School in Delaware County, Scranton Preparatory School in Lackawanna County, Manheim Township High School in Lancaster County, Parkland High School in Lehigh County, Greater Nanticoke Area Senior High School in Luzerne County, Muncy High School in Lycoming County, Pottsgrove High School in Montgomery County, Springside Chestnut Hill Academy in Philadelphia County, Bentworth Senior High School in Washington County, and Franklin Regional Senior High School in Westmoreland County.
During their tenure, KPB will provide education and training on topics related to the impacts of litter, litter prevention, waste management and recycling, civic engagement and related public policy, volunteer management, and social media marketing. The program also offers networking opportunities to promote the professional development of the individual students and build a sense of community within the program.
The Young Ambassador program was recommended as part of the commonwealth’s Litter Action Plan, announced by the Wolf administration in 2021. The plan was a response to a 2019 Pennsylvania Litter Research Study, which found that Pennsylvania has more than 500 million pieces of litter on its roadways. The action plan includes strategies for all Pennsylvanians to fight litter in their communities.
In addition to the Young Ambassadors program, PennDOT offers several other litter cleanup volunteer opportunities, including Adopt-A-Highway and Litter Brigades.
The Young Ambassadors of Pennsylvania (YAP) Program targets students in 10th through 12th grades from diverse socio-economic, racial, and ethnic backgrounds. Over eight months, the program will engage these students in various activities to promote a clean and beautiful Pennsylvania. Every ambassador will receive Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful merchandise and cleanup supplies as part of the program.
The 2023-2024 cohort of Young Ambassadors marks another significant step in Pennsylvania’s efforts to combat litter and promote environmental stewardship. By engaging young Pennsylvanians, the program hopes to inspire a new generation of civic leaders who will uphold and advocate for a clean and beautiful Pennsylvania. The commitment of these students to serve as ambassadors for their communities underlines the importance of collective action in preserving the environment and fighting against litter.
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