For prospective students, a campus tour can offer a first glimpse of what their future could look like. At Cal Poly’s College of Engineering, CENG Ambassadors help make that experience personal by welcoming visitors, sharing their own stories and offering a firsthand look at the college’s learning environment.

The ambassador program dates back to the late 1990s, according to environmental engineering student and current ambassador Adamary Herrera.

Today, the program remains an active part of the college’s outreach efforts. About 2,000 people register for CENG tours each year, with approximately 50 student ambassadors ready to share their knowledge of campus.

“Being a CENG Ambassador means representing our college to prospective students who are trying to decide where they would like to continue their education, as well as industry professionals who are interested in learning more about our college,” Herrera said.

During tours, ambassadors introduce visitors to the many spaces that support Cal Poly’s Learn by Doing approach. For Herrera, showcasing the resources available to undergraduate students is especially rewarding.

“Through the tours we give, we get to show visitors our labs and other facilities where students collaborate, learn and truly gain hands-on experience,” she said. “A lot of facilities that we have available to undergraduate students aren’t typical at every university, and so getting to share information and walking visitors through them feels rewarding.”

Each active CENG Ambassador leads three tours per semester, with each tour lasting about two hours. Before leading a tour, new ambassadors complete training, shadow two tours and then co-lead a tour alongside other ambassadors.

"The CENG ambassadors have the unique responsibility of giving people a first look at what Cal Poly has to offer," said Lynnette Zelezny, interim dean of the College of Engineering.

“Through their firsthand perspectives, ambassadors help visitors imagine themselves not only studying engineering at Cal Poly, but also becoming leaders in its collaborative community,” she said. “Their work is an important part of how we welcome future students and share the spirit of Learn by Doing.”

For Herrera, helping visitors feel welcome is what makes the role meaningful. By sharing their own experiences, she hopes each tour helps prospective students see what Cal Poly has to offer them.