Chamber looking for new junior ambassadors

COLUMBUS — The Columbus Chamber of Commerce is looking for the next generation of community leaders to apply for its 2019 Junior Ambassador Scholarship Awards. Following on the success of last year’s program, the Chamber will again be awarding two $3,000 scholarships to high school students this year.

The Chamber’s practice of awarding scholarships goes back several decades as part of the Miss Columbus pageant. In an effort to include and honor both girls and boys, the Chamber launched the Junior Ambassador program in 2018. Last year’s winners were Madison Pawlik and Evan Herchek.

This year’s program is open to tenth and eleventh graders within the Columbus Independent School District’s geographical boundaries, including alternate and home-schooled students.

Applicants will be judged on a variety of factors including extracurricular activities, volunteer work, grade point average and essays.

Finalists will be interviewed by three impartial judges from outside of the Columbus area. Interviews will be held in April and the winners will be announced in May.

Winners will be required to contribute a minimum of 50 hours of service to the Chamber of Commerce by volunteering at Chamber events and activities from May 2019 to May 2020.

“Ours is a community service scholarship program,” said Billy Kahn, chamber Executive Director. “Our Junior Ambassadors help support and promote Columbus and our businesses for the advancement of economic vitality and quality of life in our community.”

The deadline for submitting applications is Friday, April 5.

Forms and more information are available at the Columbus High School Counseling Center or the Columbus Chamber of Commerce.