Lakeview Academy Student Ambassadors Build Leadership Skills at Georgia College's Outdoor Education Center
- EricJones
- 2 days ago
- 3 min read
There’s something powerful that happens when students step outside the classroom and into a challenge. For a group of Lakeview Academy’s student ambassadors, that moment came recently at Georgia College & State University, where they participated in an immersive outdoor leadership experience designed to strengthen teamwork, resilience, and confidence.
As part of the Baldwin County School District’s ongoing commitment to developing student leaders, Lakeview Academy’s Ambassador program continues to create opportunities that go beyond academics, focusing on character, service, and real-world application.
A Program Built on Leadership
At Lakeview Academy, the Student Ambassador Program, created by art teacher Joel Respess, selects fifth-grade students who demonstrate strong character and leadership potential. These students serve as role models within the school, helping younger students and representing their peers with pride.
“This is our sixth year, and students are handpicked,” Respess shared. “They’re at the top of our school. They have to be role models, and they have to make it easy for their teachers to teach and easy for their classmates to learn.”
For many students, the program is about responsibility and it’s about belonging and purpose.
“My favorite thing about being an ambassador is representing the school and helping the kids littler than me understand how you’re supposed to be,” said Student Ambassador and LVA Fifth Grader Arianna Myles.
Learning Through Challenge at Georgia College
The highlight of this year’s experience was a visit to Georgia College’s Outdoor Education Program, led by Dr. Liz Speelman. There, approximately 40 student Ambassadors participated in a three-hour low ropes course designed to push them outside their comfort zones.The course featured a series of physical and mental challenges that required students to work together, communicate effectively, and think creatively.
“We’re going through challenge courses that teach team building and working together and not giving up, encouraging each other, not quitting,” Respess explained. For students, the experience was both exciting and transformative.
Growth Beyond the Classroom
Experiences like the low ropes course are intentionally designed to place students in unfamiliar environments where growth happens naturally.
“It takes them out of the classroom,” Respess noted. “It puts them in a totally new environment and introduces them to things they’ve never thought of.”
In that space, students learn to trust one another, solve problems collaboratively, and persevere through challenges, skills that translate directly back into the classroom and their everyday lives.
Representing Something Bigger
This year, the Ambassador Program has taken on an even greater sense of purpose. With the leadership of Superintendent Dr. Kristina Brooks, students are being encouraged to see themselves not just as leaders within their school, but as representatives of the entire district.
“We’ve decided to take on a larger role," said Respess, "and really think of ourselves as ambassadors for Baldwin County Schools.”
That shift reflects a broader vision, one where students understand their ability to influence culture, support their peers, and carry the values of their school community into the world.
Building the Leaders of Tomorrow
The Lakeview Academy Student Ambassador Program is a strong example of how Baldwin County schools are preparing students not just for academic success, but for life. Through experiences like the Georgia College low ropes course, students are learning what it means to lead, to serve, and to support one another.
And perhaps most importantly, they’re learning that leadership isn’t about standing above others. It’s about lifting others up.
Comments