Youth Ambassador Senior Spotlight

Before we close out the 2025–2026 school year, I want to recognize the incredible work of our graduating senior Youth Ambassadors. As the Youth Engagement Specialist and coordinator of the program, I’ve had the honor of watching these six students grow as leaders within their schools and communities through Passion Projects, trainings, discussions, and collaborative work throughout the year.

“Although Sydney, Talia, and Dara joined the program this year, the impact they have made has already been deeply felt. I am grateful they chose to pursue their passions while helping spread the Herren Project mission. I will greatly miss them, along with our second-year seniors, Shreya, Riley C., and Riley W. Over the past two years, it has been incredibly rewarding getting to know each of them and watching them develop into thoughtful leaders and advocates.

Riley W. brought so much talent and charisma to the group, while planning meetings and initiatives alongside Shreya and Riley C. on the executive board was an incredible support to both the program and to me personally. I am so proud of all six of these amazing young people and cannot wait to see the positive impact they continue to make in the future.”

– Brady

Read on to hear more reflections from our Youth Ambassadors.

Riley W.

“Being selected as a Youth Ambassador for The Herren Project gave me the opportunity to become a stronger leader and advocate for mental health and substance misuse prevention in my community, especially at Hilton Head Prep School over the last two years.

Through this experience, I worked alongside students from across the country to promote healthy decision-making and encourage open conversations about the challenges teens face today. I participated in leadership training, awareness campaigns, and outreach efforts focused on reducing the stigma surrounding addiction and mental health struggles.

The program taught me the importance of empathy, communication, and service, especially when supporting others through difficult situations. As a Youth Ambassador, I learned how one conversation or small act of support can have a lasting impact on someone’s life. My experience with The Herren Project strengthened my passion for helping others and reinforced my commitment to outreach and service.”

Sydney

“Being a Herren Project Youth Ambassador over this past school year has been an incredible experience. I have become more informed about mental health and learned different skills and habits to support my mental wellness and live a healthy lifestyle.

The Herren Project community is welcoming and supportive, and I have been grateful to be part of a group that I could connect with each month. Creating my Passion Project this year and working on it alongside the other ambassadors was also incredibly meaningful. I would not have been able to complete my project without the encouragement from my fellow ambassadors and all the support Brady provided.

Not only have I learned new skills, but I have also learned more about myself through workshops like PeaceLove and through the experiences shared during our meetings. I am extremely grateful for The Herren Project and everything being an ambassador has provided me this past school year. I will always continue supporting the Herren Project mission.”

Talia

“As a senior in high school, balancing everything can be a challenge. At the beginning of the school year, I struggled to manage my leadership positions while applying to colleges and keeping up with my grades. However, when I joined The Herren Project, I learned many strategies to help cope with stress and anxiety.

I learned the importance of not being too hard on myself and making time for self-care. I used those strategies throughout the school year in both academics and extracurricular activities. One activity that especially impacted me was the Transformation Collage workshop we completed during my first meeting. I later recommended the activity during my College Psychology workshop and as part of a stress-relief mentoring session because of how helpful it was for me personally.

I am so grateful for everything The Herren Project has taught me and for the ways it has helped me grow while also helping me support others.”

Riley C.

“My experience as a Youth Ambassador with Herren Project has been incredibly meaningful and rewarding over the past two years. Since joining the program, I have had many opportunities to grow as both a leader and an advocate.

Through the program, I completed an internship creating content for TikTok and Instagram to help spread The Herren Project’s message. This year, as the Publicity Chair on the Youth Ambassadors Executive Board, I continued using creativity and social media to promote our club and encourage others to get involved.

Herren Project has allowed me to connect with inspiring people who are passionate about mental health and substance misuse prevention. It has also shown me how social media can be used to create positive change. I am incredibly grateful for everything I have learned and for the supportive community I found through this experience.”

Shreya

“Being part of the Youth Ambassadors program for the past two years has been an incredibly fulfilling experience. Throughout my time in the program, I learned so much about positive coping strategies and mental health awareness, which I was then able to share with members of my club at Godwin High School.

I also enjoyed working on my Passion Project throughout the year because it gave me the opportunity to make a larger impact while putting into practice everything I had been learning through the program.

One of my favorite aspects of the program was connecting with like-minded students from across the country. Whether through icebreakers at the beginning of meetings or conversations about our Passion Projects, I was able to build friendships and learn from students with many different backgrounds and experiences.”

As we celebrate our graduating seniors, we want to thank them for the leadership, compassion, and dedication they brought to the Youth Ambassadors program. Their commitment to wellness, prevention, and supporting others has made a lasting impact on the Herren Project community.

Congratulations to the Class of 2026. We cannot wait to see all that you accomplish next.