NISD Advanced Academics Ambassadors kick off school year

Northwest ISD has selected this year’s Advanced Academics Ambassadors, a group of student leaders who advocate for advanced academic opportunities and help their peers navigate their options.

Seventy students from Byron Nelson, Eaton and Northwest high schools gathered Wednesday for an ambassador summit, where they learned more about Advanced Placement, OnRamps, and dual credit courses. The Advanced Academics Ambassador program is a collaborative effort between College, Career and Military Readiness and Curriculum & Instruction.

“Advanced academics can open doors for students, whether that means earning college credit, exploring an area of interest or challenging themselves academically,” said Audra Rowell, Northwest ISD Advanced Academics Coordinator. “Our ambassadors have the unique opportunity to share their own experiences with their peers and help other students see that these opportunities are within their reach.”

The Advanced Academics Ambassadors program began in 2024 to give students a platform to share their experiences with AP, dual credit and OnRamps courses and encourage other students, including incoming high school freshmen, to consider advanced academic opportunities. Students are nominated by a teacher, complete an application and are selected to serve as ambassadors during their junior and senior years.

“It’s such a good opportunity for your future and to help teach others what classes are better for their goals and the difference between them,” said Emeline Dillard, a Northwest High School junior. 

Beginning with the summit, ambassadors participate in training, networking activities and sessions with district staff and fellow ambassadors. Students also develop elevator speeches designed to help them explain the benefits of advanced academics and share their experiences with classmates.

Northwest High School junior Bentley Heng, a first-year ambassador, said he is looking forward to connecting with other students who share his interest in academics.

“I’m excited to meet people who have similar goals and interests and learn from their experiences. A lot of us have taken similar classes but we all have different backgrounds,” said Heng.

Although ambassadors may share similar academic pathways, each student brings unique goals and experiences to the program.

“I really want to communicate to other students the best I can to help them figure out their path and not get lost,” said Abigail Rucker, a Northwest High School junior and executive producer of NHSTv.

Rucker hopes to continue in the Creative Media Production Academy while helping other students understand the benefits of advanced academics and career-focused programs through her own experiences.

Through the program, ambassadors will continue serving as a resource for their peers throughout the school year, helping students better understand their options and find the academic pathways that best align with their goals.

The following students will serve on as Advanced Academics Ambassadors: