ELLINWOOD — Ellinwood High School Seniors volunteered their time in the community this week painting, using computer skills, raking leaves, volunteering at  Woodhaven,  and delivering Meals on Wheels all with the Sunflower Bank Community Ambassador Program.  
The idea of the Ambassador Program is to inform/educate students of Ellinwood High School about the community from city government, economic development, financial responsibility, leadership and even how to volunteer and give back to the community.
The students are already seeing the rewards. Nick Fisher spoke of going to the senior center and talking to the older people. “All they want is someone to talk to,” he said.
Amanda Proffitt like seeing how much volunteering helps other people. Another student said it was a way to team up to work together and interact with people they normally don’t interact with.
The bank wants to encourage every student to pursue their passion and complete a higher level of education where ever that may be.  But they want them to remember Ellinwood and, after they graduate, return to Barton County and start a family and possibly even a business so Ellinwood will continue to thrive and grow.     
This year the Community Ambassadors to reach out to the Ellinwood business community and non-profit organizations implementing programs that use volunteer service as a model action for the town. The plan is to break the senior class into several small groups each doing a community project.  
This is the first year that  volunteer session for the program.