The purpose of the Student Ambassador Program is for students to develop professional leadership skills and to represent the department to prospective students, parents, employers, government leaders, and the livestock and poultry industries that we serve. Typically, there are twelve undergraduate student ambassadors with four coming from each the sophomore, junior, and senior classes. Each year, four rising sophomores are selected and they serve until they graduate. Individuals are selected based on their scholastic standing and extracurricular involvement. Student ambassadors receive training to learn about the department's teaching, research, and extension programs and about faculty, staff, livestock and poultry centers, research laboratories, and industries.