2 Indiana County students to serve as Young Ambassadors

PennDOT and Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful have announced the slate of Young Ambassadors of Pennsylvania for 20222023.

The new-to-Pennsylvania program seeks to build community stewards and civic leaders by inspiring, engaging and empowering young Pennsylvanians to not only keep their communities clean and beautiful but also become ambassadors in their community for a shared vision of a clean and beautiful Pennsylvania.

Among those named Young Ambassadors this school year are two Indiana County students: Anna Layden, Grade 11, Purchase Line Junior Senior High School; and Via Krimin, Grade 12, Indiana Area Senior High School.

The program, being administered by KPB, was recommended in the commonwealth’s litter action plan, announced by Gov. Tom Wolf in November 2021. Students applied to the program and were chosen through a competitive application process.

The students have committed to eight months of service as an ambassador while representing and upholding the mission and values of KPB. From October through May 2023, they will also develop civic leadership skills and experience to champion and advocate for clean and beautiful communities across Pennsylvania.

KPB will provide education and training to program participants on such topics related to the impacts of litter, litter prevention, waste management and recycling, civic engagement and related public policy, volunteer management and social media marketing. The program will provide networking opportunities to not only build a sense of community within the program but also to promote the professional development of the individual students.

For more information about the program and the Young Ambassadors, visit the program page or contact Kylie McCutcheon at kmccutcheon@keeppabeautiful.org.

PennDOT provides many additional litter cleanup volunteer opportunities, including Adopt-A-Highway, Litter Brigades, and more at their roadside beautification web page.