St. Bonaventure is seeking current students to help find and recruit more potential students, said Bonaventure admissions officials.
Christina Sutphen, associate director of admissions, said all students can help recruit new students.
“When you talk to your younger siblings, cousins or other family members and speak positively about SBU, that is recruiting,” Sutphen said. “You can encourage your neighbor and former classmates to consider SBU as a possible college option.”
She also encouraged students to be polite and welcoming to prospective students visiting the university.
“Families comment on how friendly and welcoming the campus community is, and every current student has the opportunity to contribute in a positive way,” Sutphen said.
Sutphen explained that student ambassadors are also important to increasing admissions.
“[Ambassadors] learn how to give impactful tours to prospective students and their families. Student ambassadors are essential to the on-campus experience for prospective students and families,” she said.
Ellen Piper, junior theology major and student ambassador, said her role is to help prospective students visualize themselves attending Bonaventure.
“I have grown so much at my time at Bonaventure and feel the university has done so much to help me grow,” Piper said. “On tours I try to put that into words, and there is such a great feeling when a prospective student is able to see [him- or her-self] here.”
She said Bonaventure collectively does well at welcoming prospective students.
“When I’m on tours, faculty, staff and students come up to me and welcome the family on campus and take time away from what they are doing to say a bit about Bonaventure. It constantly reminds me why I chose the school and why I continue to love calling this place home,” Piper said.
According to Piper, anyone can be a student ambassador.
“You can go to the admissions office and ask Christina Sutphen for an application, and then there is an interview process,” she explained.
There will be two interest meeting for prospective student ambassadors, held at noon and 6 p.m. on Thursday, Jan. 21. Applications for student ambassador positions are due Friday, Jan. 29, and individual interviews will be held Thursday, Feb. 3 through Wednesday, Feb. 9.
mcelfrdh14@bonaventure.edu
