This year TEDxAsheville, Asheville’s annual forum for ideas, is sponsoring a new “Student Ambassador” program that offers 20 young people free admission to this year’s event, and invites community members to sponsor a student.

How it works: Interested young people aged 14-20 can apply via the website. There is no requisite for financial need, just a desire to attend this year’s conference. Community members who wish to contribute to the program can purchase a ticket that will be used for a young person to attend this year’s program and get a special behind-the-scenes experience of the event as well.

Student ambassadors can apply here. Learn more about the program here.

From the TEDxAsheville website:

Student Ambassador Program

The Student Ambassador Program is an opportunity for students with “Ideas Worth Spreading” to see how TEDxAsheville operates behind the scenes, as they will have the opportunity to interact and meet event sponsors, advisory board members, presenters and the volunteers of the TEDxAsheville “The Edge” conference.

Selected students will carry their experience forward in to their schools and help increase awareness of TED and TEDxAsheville. As a result of the awareness this program has generated, there are two schools in the Asheville/Buncombe County area that are developing TED clubs.

How It Works
Individuals and businesses sponsor students by paying for their entry to the annual conference. These sponsors can select students from the application pool or have students assigned to them. Some sponsors select students based on a common interest, and choose to establish a mentor relationship. Involvement is optional and varies with each sponsor.

This year, as a result of more mature content, applications from students ages 14-20 are being accepted. The application for the Student Ambassador Program can be found here.