Smithsonian Latino Center Accepting Applications for 2019 Young Ambassadors Program

The Smithsonian Latino Center is now accepting applications for the 2019 Young Ambassadors Program June 23 through Aug. 2. The application deadline is April 8. The Young Ambassadors Program, now in its 14th year, is a national program for graduating high school seniors that fosters the next generation of community-conscious Latino leaders in the arts, sciences and humanities through an intensive training and internship program at the Smithsonian. The program receives major and continued support from Ford Motor Company Fund.

Students with interest in the arts, sciences and humanities, with a focus on Latino communities and cultures, are selected to travel to Washington, D.C., for a five-week program that begins with a weeklong seminar and visits to the Smithsonian’s Latino collections to see behind the scenes and benefit from one-on-one engagement with curators, collections managers, archivists and experts from various fields. Following the week in Washington, students participate in a four-week interdisciplinary internship in museums, cultural and science institutions in 17 cities across the U.S. and Puerto Rico, including Smithsonian-affiliated organizations.

Students are selected based on their demonstrated interest in and commitment to excellence in the arts, sciences and humanities as well as their academic record, leadership experience and dedication to education and community service. The program includes meals and accommodations for the duration of the one-week training seminar, round-trip travel to Washington, D.C., and a program stipend following the four-week internship. For more information and to apply, visit www.latino.si.edu/Education/YAP.

 “Through this program, we underscore the importance of cultivating our young people, providing them tools to further their own education as well as providing opportunities for giving back to our local communities,” said Latino Center director Eduardo Díaz. “We hope their experience unlocks even more of their potential as they explore more of the Latino experience and form part of our efforts to raise awareness of these quintessentially American stories at the nation’s museum.”

“Helping to make people’s lives better depends in great part on providing students with the tools and resources to help them succeed,” said Joe Ávila, manager of community development, U.S. and Latin America, Ford Motor Company Fund. “At Ford Fund, we are proud to continue our partnership with the Smithsonian Latino Center to ensure a bright future for our future generations.”

About the Smithsonian Latino Center

The Smithsonian Latino Center ensures that Latino contributions to art, science and the humanities are highlighted, understood and advanced through the development and support of public programs, scholarly research, museum collections and educational opportunities at the Smithsonian and its affiliated organization across the U.S. and internationally.

About Ford Motor Company Fund and Community Services

Ford Motor Company Fund and Community Services works with community and global partners to advance driving safety, education and community life. Ford Motor Company Fund has operated for more than 65 years with ongoing funding from Ford Motor Company. Ford Driving Skills for Life is free, interactive, hands-on safety training focused on skill development and driving techniques, while addressing inexperience, distractions and impaired driving. Innovation in education is encouraged through Ford Blue Oval Scholars, Ford Driving Dreams, Ford Next Generation Learning and other innovative programs that enhance high school learning and provide college scholarships and university grants. The Ford Volunteer Corps enlists more than 30,000 Ford employees and retirees each year to work on local projects that strengthen their communities and improve people’s lives in more than 40 countries around the world. For more information, visit www.community.ford.com.

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