The Minneapolis Aquatennial Ambassador Organization (AAO) is excited to announce that Sophia Gerou from Big Lake will be participating in the AAO Candidate Program from July 17 through July 23.
This year, 41 candidates will be participating in the program; one young woman is chosen to be the Queen of the Lakes, and two women are chosen as Princesses. The selection team considers a variety of criteria including: professionalism, public speaking ability, current and future goals, education and co-curricular/extracurricular activities. In addition to the interview process, the candidates also participate in leadership, personal development and other unique experiences. These experiences include visiting Minneapolis hallmarks like The Woman’s Club of Minneapolis, the Stone Arch Bridge and Minneapolis City Center.
Community members are invited to cheer on their community representative at the traditional Meet the Candidates event, taking place on Wed., July 19 at the Minneapolis City Center Rotunda from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m.
The week culminates with the Coronation of the 2024 Aquatennial Ambassadors at Ted Mann Concert Hall at the University of Minnesota - Twin Cities campus on Sat., July 22 at 4 p.m. with a reception an hour prior.
Community members are encouraged to send well wishes to their candidate at the Hilton Garden Inn - University Area, 511 Huron Blvd, Minneapolis MN 55414 (indicate they are an AAO Candidate); Jandrich Floral will also provide a 15% discount to all orders for AAO candidates.
Gerou’s Bio
Gerou’s academic plan is to continue pursuing her human services degree and to graduate with her bachelors in human services. Her preferred career is to work in community outreach. Other careers of interest in her field include school counseling, and victim advocacy.
Gerous’ volunteerism included coaching cheerleading for a local association, working with the local food shelf and volunteering at various fundraisers through the Big Lake Ambassador Program.
Gerou loves to read, spend time with her family and pets, and fishing.
“I also enjoy supporting our small businesses in town, such as the local coffee shop,” she said.
Gerou’s personal goals include continuing to influence her community positively by remaining active in volunteering. Another goal she hopes to attain is positively impacting the lives of others in her career.
“My personal accomplishments include being selected as ‘most congenial,’ by my fellow candidates for the Big Lake Ambassador program,” Gerou says. “Another accomplishment I am proud of was being selected captain of my cheer team. Additionally, I was proud to represent my school’s EPIC (Encouraging Positive Influences and Choices) program throughout high school.”
Gerou says she is most looking forward to the unique experience the Aquatennial Ambassador Candidate Program provides and also meeting other representatives from their communities.
“I am honored to have the opportunity to learn from the AAO and my fellow candidates,” she said.
Her favorite part of being an ambassador was learning about other communities’ history and forming connections with them.
“I love making new connections with people from all over the state of Minnesota,” Gerou said.
