Students will visit their high schools during upcoming breaks to raise interest and awareness about the university as part of the TCU Ambassadors program.The students will answer questions and hand out TCU literature as part of the hometown recruiting program through TCU Ambassadors, the student-run group that promotes the university.

“We get to share our experiences at TCU and communicate them at our home high schools,” said Courtney Klink, TCU Ambassadors president.

Kelsey Hughes, a sophomore nursing major, said she plans to participate when she visits her hometown, Monument, Colo., this month.

“I want to go to my high school because there aren’t enough people who know about TCU in my town,” Hughes said. “Nobody looks out of state for college. I want them to know how great it is.”

Hughes said she plans to attend a college fair at her high school.

“I think people will remember me and feel comfortable asking me questions,” Hughes said.

Klink said 25 to 30 students took part in the hometown recruiting program last year.

This year, hometown recruiting organizer Nina Byers, a junior nursing major, said she hopes more will get involved.

“The hope is that high school students will relate to the ambassador and see how they have grown since leaving, and hear stories from their experience at TCU,” Byers said.

Byers said she thinks hometown recruiters are important because they can answer high school students’ questions.

“A lot of times, students don’t feel comfortable asking admissions counselors questions about social life or dorm life,” Byers said.

Klink echoed her sentiment.

“A lot of students interact with admissions counselors, but they can’t be everywhere,” Klink said. “We, as ambassadors, are a resource at home high schools to talk about TCU.”

The bulk of hometown recruiting takes place over Winter Break, Klink said, but students who want to recruit sooner are welcome to do so.

“We will help them get resources from the admissions office so they can make the presentations they want to,” Klink said.

Byers said ambassadors heading to their high schools are equipped with many supplies, including pamphlets, applications and other forms to both pass out and leave.

“My hope is that as ambassadors go to their home high schools, they have pride in TCU so that it is blatantly obvious and expressed, without even using words, how great TCU is,” Byers said.