“Leaders aren’t born; they are made. And they are made just like anything else, through hard work. And that’s the price we’ll have to pay to achieve that goal, or any goal.”
~ Vince Lombardi 

Take a folding canopy, support it with several spokes, join them in the center, lift them up, and what do you get? You’ll get a gigantic RGV LEAD umbrella. RGV LEAD has many initiatives under its umbrella, but one that is near and dear to its heart is the RGV LEAD Student Ambassador program. Each year, RGV LEAD provides a leadership orientation to incoming Ambassadors. The goal is that the new Ambassadors will have a clear understanding of what their roles and responsibilities will be in the coming school year. 

Newly-elected Ambassadors teamed up with students from across the Rio Grande Valley to listen to motivational speeches about leadership characteristics. Senior RGV LEAD Ambassador, Orientation. Oneida V. Molina from Los Fresnos High School gave the welcoming address, followed by Antonio Espinoza leading in the Pledge of Allegiance. 

Dr. Norma Salaiz, RGV LEAD Board of Directors and former RGV LEAD Executive Officer led the discussion on Ambassador commitments and then, shared examples of campus services Ambassadors can provide in the coming school year. The discussion was followed by Janie Johnston Lopez, RGV LEAD contractor, who discussed leadership characteristics. Mrs. Juanita Baldwin of the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) inspired many of the students with her keynote message on leadership development.

Concluding the training was a dynam-ic, campus and community service presentation by the Sharyland Pioneer High School Ambassadors. Students were given ideas on some fantastic initiatives they can implement in their districts. 

RGV LEAD thanks the Ambassador participants and sponsors; and is looking forward to hearing about their leadership experiences in the 2021-2022 school year.