The Department of Transportation and Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful are inviting 10th to 12th grade students from around the state to help keep Pennsylvania clean and beautiful through the Young Ambassadors of Pennsylvania Program.

Applications are being accepted through September 14.

The program seeks to build community stewards and civic leaders by inspiring, engaging, and empowering young Pennsylvanians to not only keep their communities clean and beautiful but also to become ambassadors in their community for a shared vision of a clean and beautiful Pennsylvania.

Applicants should be passionate about the environment and committed to making Pennsylvania the best place to live, work and play through volunteerism and leadership.

The Young Ambassadors program provides opportunities for high school students to train and network with industry leaders, state agencies, local media and the Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful network to increase leadership and problem solving skills and prepare them to continue to make differences in their communities and beyond.

“Young people across the Commonwealth are instrumental in the effort to curb litter and environmental degradation, now and in the future,” said PennDOT Secretary Mike Carroll. “It’s inspiring to see the rising stewards of Pennsylvania’s environment taking on such an active role in clean-up efforts around the state.”

“We are honored to offer the Young Ambassadors Program in partnership with PennDOT for the second year. The program exceeded our expectations last year, so we are eager to meet the new slate of students with the passion to implement change in their communities and the commonwealth,” said Shannon Reiter, President of Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful. “We hope to not only inspire a sense of community ownership but also highlight the importance of engaging community members, local businesses and organizations in identifying issues and partnering to find solutions.”

Chosen candidates will commit to serve as an Ambassador from October 2023 through May 2024 and represent and uphold the mission and values of Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful.

Other responsibilities include:

-- Attending 6 mandatory virtual education sessions;

-- Conducting a community assessment and creating a summary presentation;

-- Organizing and participating in at least one community cleanup event through Pick Up Pennsylvania and conducting one community education event or activity.

There will also be non-mandatory education sessions from a variety of topics.

Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful will provide education and training to program participants on such topics related to the impact of litter on roadways, litter prevention, waste management and recycling, civic engagement and related public policy, volunteer management, and social media marketing.

The program will provide networking opportunities to not only build a sense of community within the program but also to promote professional development of the individual students.

In addition, Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful has partnered with Columbia Gas of Pennsylvania funded by the NiSource Charitable Foundation to provide Job Shadow Days to select Ambassadors.

The Young Ambassadors program was recommended in the Commonwealth’s Litter Action Plan announced by the Governor’s Office in November 2021 and is funded by PennDOT.

 Students will be chosen through a competitive application process.

Students interested in applying should visit the KPB Young Ambassadors of Pennsylvania Program webpage or contact Kylie McCutcheon at 724-836-4121 x114 or kmccutcheon@keeppabeautiful.org. 

For more information on programs, initiatives and special events, visit the Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful website.  Click Here to sign up for regular updates from KPB, Like them on Facebook, Follow on Twitter, visit their YouTube Channel.

The 2023 Pick Up Pennsylvania Initiative will be held through the end of the year.  Questions should be directed to Michelle Dunn at 1-877-772-3673 Ext. 113 or send email to: mdunn@keeppabeautiful.org.

Keep PA Beautiful helps mobilize over 100,000 volunteers a year to pick up litter, clean up illegal dumping and beautify Pennsylvania.

Related Articles:

-- PennDOT, Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful Seeking High School Students For Young Ambassadors Program  [PaEN]

-- PA Resources Council Hosts Aug. 19 Household Chemical Collection Event In Boyce Park, Allegheny County  [PaEN]

-- Save The Schuylkill, Partners Seeking Volunteers For Schuylkill River Cleanup Aug. 26 Near Phoenixville, Montgomery County  [PaEN]

-- Warren Times: 15th Allegheny River Cleanup To Be Held Sept. 14-16

-- Warren Times: Household Hazardous & Electronic Waste Collection Event To Be Held In Youngsville Aug. 9

-- Scranton Times Editorial: PennDOT Is Paving The Way For Recycling [Asphalt]

[Posted: August 1, 2023]

8/7/2023