New Youth Ambassadors For St. Pete Pier Announced

ST. PETERSBURG, FL — When the St. Pete Pier reopens in the spring of 2020, there will be a cadre of volunteers to greet, host and tour visitors through the 26-acre waterfront park.

The Pier Ambassadors are comprised of 20 sophomore and junior high school students who live in St. Petersburg. They will go through a special monthly training program with the Pier team, Pier architects and local historians to learn about the history of former piers and the development of the new Pier District. An extensive preview tour of the new Pier will take place in early 2020.

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The Pier Ambassador program was launched on Wednesday at a reception at Sunken Gardens, where the students heard from Deputy Mayor Kanika Tomalin; Chris Ballestra, managing director of development for the city; and program chairs Leah McRae, director of education for the city, and Laura Spence, K-12 STEM specialist for Pinellas county schools.

"I envy you the experiences you'll have as you learn about our new pier and then have the opportunity to introduce our pier and our city to visitors from around the world," Tomalin told the new ambassadors. "I ask that you take your important task seriously but, at the same time, please enjoy your roles as spokespeople for our city, our waterfront and our incredible new pier."

Ambassadors include:

• Ava Irene Abrahams, sophomore, St. Pete High
• Sara Ahmad Abusulb, sophomore, St. Pete High
• Ashley Baugher, sophomore, St. Pete Collegiate
• Max Richard Bernhart, junior, Lakewood High
• Connor Richard Carlisle, junior, St. Pete High
• Indea Erin Elizabeth DeVore, junior, St. Pete Collegiate
• John Worth Elwyn, sophomore, Shorecrest Preparatory School
• Markos Garcia, sophomore, Northside Christian School
• Avery Lynn Guinagh, sophomore, St. Pete High
• Grace Elizabeth Hengstenberg, junior, St. Pete Collegiate
• Ashley Nicole Hornbeck, junior, St. Pete Collegiate
• Matthew Jimenez Cortez, junior, St. Pete High
• Elizabeth Margaret Johnson, junior, St. Pete High
• Adrian Lopez, junior, St. Pete Collegiate
• Taijuan Anthony Lucas, junior, Admiral Farragut
• Krish Privam Patel, sophomore, Shorecrest Preparatory School
• Yamira Janiecia Patterson, sophomore, St. Pete High
• Mia Janelle Pineda, sophomore, Dixie Hollins
• Magnicel Laigo Pulido, sophomore, St. Pete High
• Leah Taylor Sonberg, sophomore, St. Pete High.