People to People Ambassador Programs Announces 'Alumni Antarctica' Contest Winner

SPOKANE, Wash., Jan. 5, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- People to People Ambassador Programs, the leader in global educational travel experiences, today announced that Gabriel Mayers is the winner of its "Alumni Antarctica" contest. Mayers, a high school student and alumnus from the  Journey through the South Pacific summer program in 2007, receives complimentary travel on People to People's Students on Ice program, an exclusive 15-day ship-based journey that explores southern South America, the Antarctic Peninsula and the surrounding Southern Ocean.

"Antarctica is one of the seven continents our educational travel programs visit," said Peg Thomas, president of People to People Ambassador Programs. "Students are exposed to incredible experiences and cultures on program and grow as global citizens. We're pleased to send one of our outstanding alumni on this special program."

Students from grades 7 to 12 travel with a team of 30 renowned scientists, historians, artists, explorers, educators, leaders, innovators and polar experts. From hiking into the Tierra del Fuego backcountry, setting sail down the Beagle Channel towards the Drake Passage to searching for whales, seabirds and the mighty Wandering Albatross and studying Adelie and Gentoo penguins, this educational travel program is structured to enhance students' knowledge, skills, perspectives and practices, with an overall goal of developing Antarctica ambassadors into environmentally responsible citizens.

People to People Ambassador Programs selected Mayers, a program alumnus from Gaithersburg, Maryland, based on her essay responses about why she deserved to travel on this incredible People to People program.

"People to People programs have made me very conscious of the degree of impact the global youth have on the world," said Mayers. "I would like to use any experiences gained through this expedition to collaborate with other delegates to fight climate change, preserve the world's state and its wildlife for future generations to enjoy."

Mayers traveled to Australia, New Zealand and Fiji on People to People's Journey through the South Pacific program in 2007. She is currently  a 10th grader at The Holton-Arms School in Bethesda, Maryland, active in her  school's student council, Model UN and Black Student Union, plays ice hockey and plans to study marine biology in college.

About People to People Ambassador Programs

People to People Ambassador Programs is the world's most recognized and respected educational travel provider. Since 1963 more than 400,000 people from around the world have traveled with People to People Ambassador Programs to help further global understanding through cross-cultural exchange. Offering unmatched safety measures and unparalleled access to foreign cultures and countries, People to People Ambassador Programs promotes personal success in a globalized world and fosters international friendships for both students and professional adults.

People to People Ambassador Programs is the exclusive educational travel provider of People to People International (PTPI), a nonprofit organization founded in 1956 by President Dwight D. Eisenhower to promote peace through understanding worldwide. Together, PTPI and People to People Ambassador Programs are united in a mission to bridge cultural and political borders through education and exchange. For more information, please visit www.peopletopeople.com.

About Ambassadors Group

Ambassadors Group Inc. (Nasdaq: EPAX) is a socially conscious education company located in Spokane, Washington. Ambassadors Group is the parent company of People to People Ambassador Programs, World Adventures Unlimited, the Society for Global Citizens, and BookRags, an educational research website. The company also oversees the Washington School of World Studies, an accredited travel study and distance learning school. Additional information about Ambassadors Group and its subsidiaries is available at www.ambassadorsgroup.com.

SOURCE People to People Ambassador Programs