The City of St. Petersburg has opened applications for its Student Ambassador Program, a cultural exchange with its sister city, Takamatsu, Japan. High school juniors residing in St. Petersburg can apply until March 27 at 5 p.m.
The program allows selected students to spend up to three weeks in Takamatsu during the summer, where they will stay with local families and experience Japanese culture firsthand. In exchange, students from Takamatsu will visit St. Petersburg and stay with host families to learn about American culture. Hosting a student from Japan is required for participation, and all potential host families must complete an interview process.
Applicants are expected to be committed students who demonstrate civic pride and can represent St. Petersburg while sharing its culture with the Takamatsu community. Upon returning home, participants will share their experiences through presentations to student groups, civic organizations, and the wider community, including a formal presentation to the Mayor and City Council.
Students and their families are also required to host a Student Exchange Ambassador from Takamatsu for ten days after returning from Japan.
St. Petersburg has a history of fostering community engagement through inclusive and innovative policies as outlined on its official website. The city is recognized for its diverse cultural scene, vibrant neighborhoods, arts initiatives, notable infrastructure such as the municipal marina and Museum of Fine Arts, as well as historic milestones like hosting spring training since 1914 and early commercial aviation achievements according to its official history page.
More information about eligibility criteria and application procedures is available at www.stpete.org/international.
