During the April 11, 2024, City Commission meeting, the Key West Ambassadors Academy graduated its 40th class. They join more than 600 citizens who now have a better insight into the workings of City government. Each Key West Ambassadors Academy class has been a special blend of dedicated, involved citizens.
During the City Commission meeting, Class Representative Tammy Harrow commended the City staff who made the class possible.
She noted that the group teamed up to take on a class project: working with the Metropolitan Church's Cooking with Love program to provide meals to the elderly.
Four current city leaders – Mayor Teri Johnston, Commissioners Clayton Lopez, Sam Kauffman, and Lissette Cuervo Carey – were elected after finishing this program. Other alumni have served as commissioners and sat on various city boards.
The Key West Ambassadors Academy was established in 2003 by then-City Manager Julio Avael. Class 41 is slated to begin in mid-July. Applications will be available on the city's website in the first week of June.
In the photo: Kelli Funkhouser, Jeff Siegel, Diane DiBlasi, Tom Coward, Marisha Williams, Nancy Coward, Commissioner Lissette Carey, Maxine Pollack, Joy Nulisch, Commissioner Jimmy Weekley, Betty Darst, DeeDee Henriquez, Mayor Teri Johnston, Tom Morris, Tammy Harrow, Vice-Mayor Sam Kaufman, Karl Gevecker, and Jeffrey Jenkins. Commissioners Mary Lou Hoover and Clayton Lopez were in attendance via Zoom.
Class members not pictured: Scott and Charity Maurer.