A soft cold breeze floated through the warehouse’s open doors at Phoenix Decorating Center as Tournament of Roses Student Ambassador senior Isaac Haynes took in the vibrant floats. He and the other ambassadors, dressed in red jackets, carefully separated purple flowers from their stems.
“I’m excited to go see all the different floats and have the opportunity to participate and give back to the city I live in,” Haynes said. “The combination of living in Pasadena and always loving to go to the Rose Parade and seeing all those floats made it a no-brainer for me to at least try out for becoming a Student Ambassador, so I did.”
Haynes, as well as seniors Charmaine Ng, Brianna Kouzouyan and Nilo Zuniga, is a Student Ambassador for the TOR. The role of an ambassador is to be there for parade spectators and answer all of their questions.
“When I found out that they were looking for five students to be a part of the Rose Parade, I thought that it was my chance to be a part of it,” Zuniga said. “I have wanted to be in the Rose Parade since I was a kid. When they called me and said that I made it in, I was so happy to do it.”
The Student Ambassadors represent TCHS in TOR activities and act as a connection between the TOR committee and the students and staff at school.
“Participating is a drastic understatement,” Haynes said. “We do this because we want to let the world know that the TOR isn’t just made up of experienced white suits. It has young teens that are eager to be involved in such a unique and superb organization. That itself should serve as a testament to what the TOR represents to all of us.”
They attended four training meetings where they volunteered for roles such as crowd control and ushering at events like the coronation of the Rose Queen on Oct. 22. In addition, they practiced the necessary communication skills to make the parade experience as enjoyable as possible for spectators.
“I am looking forward to being part of the Rose Parade,” Zuniga said. “I had fun at Phoenix and I enjoyed the experience. It will be fun meeting new people and helping them at the parade.”
On the day of the Rose Parade, there are many events that the ambassadors volunteer for. At the beginning of the day, the ambassadors help seat people in the grandstands and hand out food and refreshments.
During the parade, the ambassadors provide background about the event. Their knowledge ranges from the floats that are in the parade to the materials that decorate each float.
“When it’s all said and done, I will be much more experienced when it comes to talking and giving legitimate information to people who would have otherwise not been able to appreciate what they saw in front of them at the parade,” Haynes said. “One of the best ways for paradegoers to gain a stronger understanding for what it really takes to put on this parade is through the Student Ambassadors.”
TCHS School Newspaper