The Minneapolis Aquatennial Ambassador Organization kicked off its Ambassador Candidate Program on Tuesday with the Candidate Community Luncheon where two of its annual awards were presented to outstanding community volunteers. This year's recipient of the Minnesota Community Award was the community of Cokato! The award is presented to an ambassador program that has participated in the Aquatennial Ambassador Candidate Program and has developed an outstanding ambassador progr

The AAO is proud to introduce the 53 ambassador candidates for the 2018 Aquatennial Ambassador Crew. View candidates > Photos of the 53 candidates were captured by the Andrew Sonnek of AFSonnek Photography, Partner and Official Photographer of the AAO. Sonnek lives in Minneapolis and started as a landscape and cityscape photographer, "showing off every day places’ understated beauty," states Andrew on his website. Also capturing our Ambassador Crew's official photos, Andrew

The AAO announced the public events it will host during the 2017 Aquatennial festival via a video posted to its social media outlets on Tuesday. A total of seven events will be offered in July. A notable change this year is the Alumni Boat Cruise sponsored by Paradise Charter Cruises and the Mississippi Queen has moved to Monday to act as a social kick-off for AAO Alumni and will feature a special recognition for Alumni celebrating a milestone anniversary. Another big change

The AAO is pleased to announce the Minnesota communities participating in the 2017 Aquatennial Ambassador Candidate Program! View communities > This July, 54 candidates will be representing their communities during the Minneapolis Aquatennial festival. They will participate in a candidate program designed to provide personal and professional development opportunities, as well as many once-in-a-lifetime Aquatennial experiences. Just before the Target Fireworks on Saturday, Ju

The registration deadline for the 2017 Candidate Program is Saturday, April 15. The program provides several personal and professional development opportunities and other exclusive VIP experiences. A complete registration application form must be submitted by April 15, however full payment is not due until Candidate Orientation in May. Register Now > Did you know: Any Minnesota community is welcome to send a past ambassador as a candidate Each of the current Aquatennial Prin

The AAO released its 2017 Aquatennial Ambassador Appearance Request and Honorary Commodore Nomination forms on its website Monday. Coordinators of community festivals, ambassador programs and other community organizations are encouraged to submit a request for Aquatennial ambassadors to attend and participate in their festival or special event. Local volunteer opportunities, ambassador coronations, parade participation, and visits to schools and senior living facilities are

The AAO officially unveiled its 2017 AAO + Winter Carnival Friendship Pin on Wednesday on its new online store. The shared friendship and support for the Ambassadors and Volunteers of the Aquatennial Ambassador Organization and Saint Paul Winter Carnival spans far past the banks of the Mississippi River. The "Friendship Pin" was created in 2013 to showcase this unique relationship between the two organizations. The pin features five silver anchors that form a snowflake. Each

Considered the highest award an individual or organization can receive from the Boy Scouts of America, Dan Stoltz was the recipient of the William H Spurgeon III Award for community involvement and service. Though Stoltz was not a Boy Scout, he sees the honor as prestigious in that it recognizes the importance of giving back to one's community. Commodore Dan wrote, "I was honored and humbled to receive the Spurgeon Award." Commodore asked his good friend, Joe Schmit, Sports