They wear crowns and beautiful dresses, but they aren’t pageant girls— they are your Maple Grove Ambassadors. Libby Wanner, Anna Worel and Alexa Castonguay were found to more than live up to the Ambassadors’ theme for the year: “The Perfect Fit.” Last summer, these three were selected to represent Maple Grove as goodwill ambassadors throughout the Twin Cities.
The Ambassador program offers an opportunity for young women to build skills for their personal and professional growth; thanks to some generous sponsors, $100,000 in scholarships have also been provided over the years.
Libby Wanner is currently a sophomore at the University of Minnesota studying wildlife biology. She says she “wanted to find a way that I could represent my community while being away at college” so when she heard about the ambassador program from a friend and former ambassador, she decided to apply. As a true Minnesotan, Wanner is most looking forward to the Polar Bear Plunge and has learned (the hard way) to always carry sunscreen in her crown box. In her free time, Libby enjoys horseback riding, running and taking care of her adopted cow Delilah.
Alexa Castonguay is a senior at Maple Grove Senior High School who enjoys horseback riding, snowboarding, reading and running. She applied for the program, excited about acquiring skills that would help her achieve her goal of owning a business someday. Castonguay was most excited for “sparkle night” at Target Field where she got to meet ambassadors from other cities. One of her lucky charms is a slip of paper she received during a personal growth day during the program that says “you’re an amazing person worthy of celebration every day.”
Anna Worel is a 2013 Osseo Senior High School graduate and freshman at Augsburg College, studying art and elementary education. Over the years, she has done a lot of babysitting and one of her best friends is her five year-old neighbor, Lily. Worel really enjoyed the Special Olympics event during the candidate program, saying that seeing the participants smile was “really heartwarming.” Her love for children is also evident in the ambassador event that she was most looking forward to attending: Mommy, Tea, and Me. Another fun fact about Worel: she always carries her underwater camera, so she can snap photos anywhere she goes.
Join the ambassadors on December 7 for Breakfast with Santa from 8:30 a.m.–1 p.m. at the Community Center. They will also be in attendance at the Sleigh Bells and Sparkle Parade later that same day, beginning at 5 p.m. on Main Street.
