Become a Student To Student Ambassador
Your Voice Can Change Hearts and Minds.
Applications Are Now Open for the 2026–2027 School Year
Student To Student (STS) empowers Jewish teens throughout Orange County to build understanding, combat antisemitism, and proudly share what it means to be Jewish.
As a STS Ambassador, you'll:
- Educate middle and high school students about Judaism, Jewish identity, and the realities of antisemitism
- Build confidence in sharing your own Jewish story
- Form lasting friendships with Jewish teens from across Orange County
- Develop leadership and public speaking skills
- Earn community service hours
- Make a meaningful difference in our community
Every presentation has the power to replace stereotypes with understanding, foster meaningful dialogue, and leave a lasting impact that continue long after our ambassadors leave the classroom.
Why STS?
STS is one of the most meaningful ways Jewish teens in Orange County can strengthen their own Jewish identity while changing how thousands of students understand the Jewish community. As a STS ambassador, you will join not just a local cohort of passionate high school students, but also a nationwide network of Student To Student ambassadors through this national program of Jewish Federation of North America.
Applications are open for both NEW and RETURNING ambassadors for the 2026–2027 school year.
Become one of Orange County's next generation of Jewish leaders.
Student To Student Leadership Fellowship
Go Beyond the Presentation
This year Jewish Federation of Orange County is proud to launch the Student To Student Leadership Fellowship, an exclusive leadership experience available to all Student To Student Ambassadors.
Created in partnership with OpenDor Media, this FREE six-session fellowship gives students the opportunity to explore Jewish identity more deeply while developing advanced leadership, storytelling, and communication skills.
In this smaller cohort, Fellows will:
- Explore Jewish identity in greater depth
- Strengthen their connection to Israel and the Jewish people
- Learn to recognize and respond to antisemitism
- Develop compelling storytelling techniques
- Practice public speaking and leadership
- Build meaningful friendships with fellow Jewish teen leaders
As Student To Student enters its sixth year in Orange County, we're deepening our investment in our ambassadors by equipping the next generation of Jewish leaders with the knowledge, confidence, and skills to make an event greater impact.
The Leadership Fellowship is offered at no cost to participants.
Fellowship Commitment
Students must:
- Be accepted as a Student To Student Ambassador
- Participate in STS presentations throughout the school year
- Attend all six Leadership Fellowship sessions
Students who complete the Fellowship will be invited to a special student-led celebration recognizing their accomplishments.
Apply for Student To Student and indicate your interest in the Leadership Fellowship.
Deadline is August 1. Space is limited and acceptance is based on a rolling basis.
2026–2027 Leadership Fellowship Schedule
* All sessions take place from 3-5pm at the Merage JCC, unless otherwise indicated.
August 16
Jewish Identity
Know who you are. Own your story.
August 23 (Virtual)
Our Connection to Israel
Explore the historical, cultural, and religious connection between the Jewish people and the State of Israel.
October 18
Jewish Traditions & Rituals
Understand not only what we do, but why we do it.
November 15
The Holocaust with Impact
Learn how to educate others about the Holocaust with historical accuracy, empathy, and sensitivity.
December 13
Antisemitism: Past & Present
Understand today's antisemitism, learn how to recognize it, and gain confidence responding to it.
January 24
Leadership, Storytelling & Speaking
Build the skills to inspire others, communicate with confidence, and make a lasting impact.
Legacy Keepers
Every Survivor's Story Deserves to Live On.
Student To Student ambassadors have a unique opportunity to become Legacy Keepers through our partnership with Cypress College's Holocaust Education Initiative and Ursula Lowenbach Foster Holocaust Survivor Portrait Gallery.
Students may choose to:
- Learn and preserve the life story of a Holocaust survivor by "adopting" their story and sharing it during Student To Student presentations.
- Honor a member of their own family by refining and presenting their family's Holocaust or Jewish legacy story.
Legacy Keepers ensure these stories continue to educate future generations while helping students develop powerful storytelling skills rooted in history, remembrance, and responsibility.
Because stories survive when we share them.
Bring STS to Your High School or Middle School
Student To Student (STS) presentations are free to schools and designed to be done in a classroom setting to provide an intimate, open dialogue and a safe space for student questions.
All presentations are done within the classroom period or time specified by the teacher. Our teen ambassadors come in teams of approximately four students and come prepared to discuss various aspects of Judaism, but mostly to share their personal narratives and talk about what it's like to be a Jewish teen and to show the diversity of the Jewish community. We come with props to increase awareness of the topics covered (including challah bread to share). We strive to enhance the classroom curriculum, and we aim to build upon it. We work with teachers and administrators to ensure this goal is achieved.
Going Beyond the Classroom
The impact of a Student to Student (STS) presentation goes well beyond the classroom and the school day. After engaging with STS Teen Ambassadors, high school students better understand Jews and Judaism, have increased awareness of religious and cultural differences and commonalities, and gain a greater desire to interrupt antisemitic comments and stereotypes when they hear them inside and outside a school setting.
83% of teachers strongly agree that Student to Student presentations
break down stereotypes and effectively engage their students.
94% of teachers report that students continue to discuss what they learned from Student to Student presentations in their classrooms afterward.
Data source: 2019 report conducted by LS Associates, available upon request.
84% of students report that they have shared what they learned or have taken another step to learn more about Judaism. 27% say that they have interrupted an antisemitic comment.
78% of teachers believe that Student to Student presentations helped to
counter antisemitism in their schools.
Testimonials
“They were phenomenal! The students were so relatable, so passionate, they were confident, and they had such clever approaches to engaging students. I really appreciated how they first taught about Judaism, and then addressed the Holocaust and anti-Semitism after teaching about their culture. It prioritizes that Judaism is a rich culture existing today, and not, as was stated, something to simply see through the eyes of the Holocaust or history books.”
- Student to Student Participating Teacher
“Overall, I think this is an excellent program that can do more for tolerance and understanding than any curriculum
I could potentially teach.”
- Student to Student Participating Teacher
“It is through programs such as this that our communities learn to understand each other so that we can live in mutual respect and peace.”
– Student to Student Participating Teacher
“I always leave presentations with an incredible sense of accomplishment, realizing that through this program, I really could change some of the problems in the world today.”
– Student to Student Presenter
Frequently Asked Questions
Who can apply for Student to Student?
Jewish students attending private and public schools in Orange County who will be in grades 9th – 12th grade during the 2026-27 school year are eligible to apply. Students do not have to be affiliated with a Jewish organization, congregation or denomination.
How much time is required for this program?
This program makes a big impact with a minimal time commitment from student participants. Students will meet for a one-day orientation session (specifics will be shared upon acceptance into the program). We will also be having regularly scheduled social and educational gatherings throughout the semester to increase our sense of community and our knowledge base around the topics we present about (dates for these scheduled programs will be shared at orientation). Students can expect to leave school to present at least 1-3 times per semester. All time spent on the Student To Student program qualifies for community service hours.
How many students can participate in the program this year?
This past academic year, we had a cohort of 85 students. We are seeking to maintain, or even grow, our cohort for the 2026-27 academic year. Ideally students in our cohort will represent a diversity of religious denominations and affiliations.
Who gives the presentations?
Each presentation is given by a group of three to five students. Each group will always be accompanied by a Federation employee and/or volunteer. Students have the ability to sign up for presentations depending on their schedules.
Where are presentations given?
STS participants make presentations in public and private middle and high schools in classes that focus on world history, literature classes, ethnic studies, ancient civilizations, human geography, and comparative religions; to name a few.
What do presentations consist of?
Presenters discuss a range of topics, including any or all of the following:
- A description of the branches of Judaism
- Who are the Jewish people
- The Jewish life cycle from birth to Bar/Bat Mitzvah to marriage to death
- The Sabbath
- Antisemitism and the Holocaust
- Israel
- The Hebrew language
- Jewish dietary practices
- The Jewish calendar, including holidays
Groups bring a variety of “props” into the classroom that help make their presentations come alive for their peers, including challah, a shofar, Shabbat candlesticks, personal pieces of Judaica and more. The group encourages their fellow students to ask questions. The subsequent discussions are a vital element of the program.
How do students prepare for presentations?
Students will meet for an orientation session in late summer. Materials will be provided and support given to help the students prepare. Because so much of these presentations reflect students’ personal experiences, they will come into the program with much of the expertise they need to give effective presentations. You will practice as a group to ensure you feel confident in your presentation skills and material you are presenting about.
How many presentations do students give?
We expect all students to give a minimum of 1-3 site visit presentations per a semester.
When do presentations take place?
Presentations tend to take place during school hours. Presenting students will need to leave school in order to present. Excused absence letters are provided to students from the Program Director.
The Rose Project’s Student to Student program is a proud partner of Be the Narrative and Student to Student chapters around the U.S.
This program is partially funded by grant from the American Jewish Committee, Orange County Chapter.
In the Media
Tribe Tribune: Teens Teach Students about Judaism
In Their Words
Tribe Tribune: Antisemitism is not Funny
This program is partially funded by grant from the American Jewish Committee, Orange County Chapter.