BBB invites high school students to warn peers about scams and earn a scholarship

The San Diego Better Business Bureau (BBB) is inviting high school juniors and seniors in San Diego and Imperial counties to participate in its 2013 Student Ambassador program. Sponsored by Union Bank, the BBB’s Student Ambassador program is a speakers bureau where high school students deliver speeches to their peers on how to be smarter consumers and protect themselves from scams and fraud.

The BBB said students who deliver the most speeches can earn scholarship money for college. In addition, the BBB said its Student Ambassador program is a personal growth opportunity for students to add public speaking skills to their resume and learn to overcome fears of public speaking. Deadline to apply for this year’s Student Ambassador program is Friday, Feb. 15. For more information, visit www.sandiego.bbb.org/student-ambassador, or contact Brenna Simon, BBB Student Ambassador coordinator, bsimon@sandiego.bbb.org, (858) 496-2131.

Among the scholarship recipients in 2012 were students from Oceanside. Oceanside High School seniors Rosanna Thai and Susan Bennington earned the top prize of $2,500 after delivering 32 speeches to more than 1,000 students. In second place, El Camino High School seniors Kayla Barreto and Bianca Jamara received $1,500 after delivering eight speeches to 273 students.

“High school age students are often hit hard by scammers because they tend to be naïve and have high disposable incomes,” said Sheryl Bilbrey, BBB president/CEO. “This program gives teenagers the tools to fight back against scammers and become smart adult consumers.”