JACKSON, Miss. – Secretary of State Michael Watson hosted the 2025-2026 Secretary of State (SOS) Student Ambassadors for their Fall Summit on Thursday. The event, hosted at the Two Mississippi Museums in Jackson, marked the first of the in-person summits the Student Ambassadors will attend throughout the school year.

"The SOS Student Ambassador program is one of my favorite initiatives at the Secretary of State's Office. Investing in and mentoring our future generations remains one of our most important public services. We are honored to have the opportunity to host some of Mississippi's best and brightest in Jackson while teaching them the importance of civic engagement, voting, and leadership," said Secretary Michael Watson.

The Student Ambassadors had the opportunity to participate in a reverse Q&A with Secretary Watson to discuss some of the biggest challenges facing Mississippi's youth and ways state officials may address some of their concerns. Another highlight from the day included a panel featuring Assistant Secretaries of State from three divisions of the Secretary of State's Office and Chief of Staff Carla Thornhill.

Ambassadors also toured the Mississippi Governor's Mansion and participated in a Lunch & Learn Q&A with Drake Cushing, Senior Vice President and General Manager of C Spire Business. Through a special partnership with the C Spire Foundation, award-winning Chef Nick Wallace and his team at the Nissan Cafe provided lunch for the students.

“The C Spire Foundation is proud to support the Mississippi Secretary of State Student Ambassadors program, which aligns perfectly with our mission to advance STEAM education for Mississippi students. By investing in young leaders and encouraging civic engagement, our goal is to help build a future where innovation, technology, and public service go hand in hand,” said Beth Pickering, C Spire Foundation president and executive director. 

The SOS Student Ambassador program equips high school seniors with the knowledge and resources to engage as leaders within their schools and communities The three main components of the program are teaching students about elections and voting (including how to host a voter registration drive in their school), state government, and mentorship. This is the fourth year of the program, and the 2025-2026 class consists of 73 students from 54 schools in 28 counties across all four congressional districts. 

The program was recently awarded the 2025 IDEAS (Innovation, Dedication, Excellence and Achievement in Service) Award at the National Association of Secretaries of State (NASS) Summer Conference in Biloxi.

For questions regarding the SOS Student Ambassador Program, or if you're interested in partnering with our office on the program, please contact our Communications & Publications Division at Ambassadors@sos.ms.gov.

Click here to view the 2025-2026 SOS Student Ambassadors

Click here to learn more about the SOS Student Ambassador Program