The Massachusetts Interscholastic Athletic Association (MIAA) is a self regulating nonprofit organization that promotes education-based programs for high school students. Each member school is given the opportunity to appoint up to three students to serve as their school’s “student ambassadors.” Each ambassador varies in grade and gender.

For the 2016-2017 school year, Timothy Frechette and Josie Schmidt represented Somerset Berkley Regional High School in the MIAA. However Frechette was a senior and graduating, so the Athletic Director, Mr. Francis, alerted the class of 2019 and 2020.

He sent out an application at the end of the 2017 school year for interested students. After filling out the application, the four top students were asked for an interview by the two ambassadors and the Athletic Director. A few days later, the results were in. Josie Schmidt kept her position and two new freshmen were picked: Fiona Lyons and me, Grace Dube.

Now sophomores, both Lyons and I keep participating in our school and stay well-rounded. They keep up with their academics as well as playing sports outside and for SBRHS. Lyons is a part of the varsity soccer team as well participating in both winter and spring track. I did winter track as a freshman and played softball for the JV team. We enjoy being active and influencing others for better.

Student ambassadors not only represent their school on an athletic level, but they also participate in many others events. Throughout the rest of our high school careers as ambassadors, we will announce captains for each sport at wellness nights, announce the starting varsity line up at basketball games, and attend “huddles” to meet with other student ambassadors from schools across Massachusetts and start community service projects.

One project Josie Schmidt recently started was raising money for hurricane victims. She sold “Raider super fan” tee shirts, and all the money was donated to the Red Cross. It was a huge success, with many students, teachers, coaches, and families buying shirts that were sold during lunch, volleyball game, and football games.

There was a recent “huddle” in Franklin, Ma. on October 20th. Around 150 ambassadors showed up to the huddle. There were several single and group activities that were done to help raise ideas for community service and gather other ideas to help our schools. While there, a guest speaker who was soldier in the national guard spoke about what it means to be a leader, and how to be an effective one.