"The American Young Ambassadors Program is an unprecedented global leadership initiative that shows the world that young people can be leaders today, not in some distant tomorrow," says Steve Culbertson, president and CEO of Youth Service America. "By combining the dynamics of leadership, service and learning, the Young Ambassadors put forth to the world this country's greatest asset - our youth," he adds.

The Young Ambassadors will spend 14 days in Beijing, China during the 2008 Summer Olympics. They will volunteer at various venues; host a youth summit; and host several leadership receptions including an International Sports Leadership Reception with world-accomplished athletes and a World Leaders Reception with heads of state and leaders of corporations. Additionally, Young Ambassadors will host an Olympic pin-trading event, which will be a less formal forum for international youth interaction. Youth Ambassadors will receive training in film production from the New York Film Academy in order to help Youth Ambassadors collectively produce a documentary of their experience.

The American youth selected for the Young Ambassadors Program will be presented with the President's Volunteer Service Award to wear throughout the games as an indication that their work is acknowledged by the President of the United States of America. This Olympic forum is an invaluable multi-cultural learning experience for these students.

For the American Young Ambassador Program application, please visit: YSA.org.

For information about the program: americanyoungambassadors.com.