Goodwill Ambassador Alumni Network
The Goodwill Ambassador Alumni Network is comprised of former National Cherry Blossom Festival Goodwill Ambassadors. Founded in 2012 by Jose Pulido and Heather Rogers, who served as Goodwill Ambassadors in 2010, the Network hopes to connect alumni of the program, and college students or young professionals with a passion for the Festival and international relations. The Alumni Network includes individuals who have continued to pursue these interests through a variety of avenues such as international travel, the Japan Exchange and Teaching Program (JET), Japan-America Student Conference (JASC) as well as impressive internships and careers at nonprofits and corporations.
Each year, the members of the Alumni Network attend Festival and community events, assist the current group of Goodwill Ambassadors, and plan projects of their own. Some Goodwill Ambassadors have also pursued individual projects that build off of their experience with the Festival.
Are you a former Goodwill Ambassador? Please contact the Festival or the Goodwill Ambassador Alumni Network’s Steering Committee at NCBFGoodwill@gmail.com.
Goodwill Ambassador Alumni Network Steering Committee
The Steering Committee handles communication and events for the Goodwill Ambassador Alumni Network, and plays an active role in the recruitment of new program participants. The current Steering Committee is comprised of:
Grace Kim (2012)
Kaloyan Kostov (2011)
Jakub Poniatowski (2011)
Jose Pulido (2010)
Heather Rogers (2010)
Laura Symborski (2012)
Alumni News
A Q & A With Former National Cherry Blossom Festival Goodwill Ambassador Michelle Aldridge by Ayesha Venkataraman, Washingtonian Magazine. The 2011 ambassador shares her experience with the program and her memories of aiding with tsunami relief efforts in Japan.
Jose Pulido (2010), Nazmeene Khan (2012), and Michelle Aldridge (2011) at a U.S. Department of State panel discussion during the 2012 Festival.
