The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation and Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful announced on April 1 that applications are open for environmentally-conscious 10th through 12th grade students to join the Young Ambassadors of Pennsylvania program.
The initiative is designed to empower young Pennsylvanians by providing training from leaders in the private sector, state government, local media, and Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful. The goal is to help protect the environment while building leadership and problem-solving skills among participants. Applicants should be passionate about environmental issues and committed to restoring and protecting Pennsylvania’s ecological landscape through volunteerism and leadership.
“Pennsylvania’s ecological beauty and sustainability come from hard work on the ground level,” said PennDOT Secretary Mike Carroll. “Through litter clean-up and prevention, stream restoration, and empowering their friends and neighbors, the next generation of environmental leaders are setting the standard for the rest of us.”
Shannon Reiter, President of Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful, said, “We are honored to offer the Young Ambassadors Program in partnership with PennDOT for a fifth year. Each student brings unique experiences and tremendous passion for creating meaningful change in their communities and across the Commonwealth, and we look forward to welcoming a new group of inspiring young leaders. Our goal is to spark a sense of community ownership while highlighting the importance of working with local residents, businesses, and organizations to identify issues and build solutions together. We are grateful for our continued partnership with PennDOT, which allows us to expand opportunities for students and help them develop the essential skills needed for long term success.”
Participants will receive education on topics such as litter prevention, waste management, recycling, civic engagement, public policy, volunteer management, and social media marketing. Select ambassadors will also have access to Job Shadow Days through partnerships with Columbia Gas – NiSource Charitable Foundation and Dow. The program requires attendance at six virtual education sessions; conducting a community assessment; organizing a cleanup event; and leading one community education activity.
Ambassadors will serve from September 2026 through May 2027. Applications are accepted until June 10 via keeppabeautiful.org or by contacting Kylie McCutcheon at Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful. More information can be found on the official roster page.
