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Published: August 10, 2010
The B.C. Ambassador program began in 2000 and Merritt has had the distinction of hosting this event for each of its 11 years.
The program is open to any young man or woman age 17 to 23, who has held an Ambassador/ Royal title in British Columbia and promoted their community as title holder.
As a B.C. Ambassador the team travels throughout the province promoting the programs mandate of excellence in education, forging new links of friendship and understanding, while nurturing theirs skills as future leaders.
This years ten candidates will be judged on their knowledge of B.C. current events, interviews with the judges, and their skills related to promotion, public speaking, and personal talents culminating in the crowning of the three finalists this Saturday night at 6 p.m. at the Merritt Civic Centre.
The organizers of the ambassador program recognize the importance of education in reaching future goals and therefore offer bursaries to assist the youth in fulfilling their dreams.
There is over $7800 worth of bursaries to be awarded to the successful candidates and all candidates, regardless of placement can apply for these scholarships through the various sponsors.
Merritt is proud to be hosting this event and wishes all of the candidates good luck.
Dennis Hance Representing: Lytton
Dennis Hance graduated from Stein Valley Nlakapamux School in 2008. Now he plans on enrolling in Nicola Valley Institute of Technology in the Resident Care Attendant program, Then continue into the Access of Practical Nursing. He is currently employed with the Nlakapamux Nation Tribal Council as a Resource Officer.
Alicia Janzen Representing: Kamloops
Alicia Janzen is 18 years old and is currently enrolled at Thompson Rivers University in the Bachelor of Business Administration program. She plans to major in Human Resources and hopes to become an entrepreneur and start a film company. She is also writing a book series and it is her goal to have it published one day
Meika Miola Representing: Revelstoke
Meika has currently finished her second year at Thompson Rivers University, in the Bachelor of Arts program. She plans to become a High School English Teacher and eventually a professor of the arts.
In her spare time Meika enjoys exploring outdoors either hiking or camping. She also loves to volunteer in her community with the Miss Revelstoke Ambassador Program and the Hospital Auxiliary Thrift Shop.
Andrea Threatful Representing: Revelstoke
Andrea Threatful is currently attending TRU in Kamloops after graduating from Revelstoke Secondary in 2009. She is working towards a Bachelor of Arts Degree in the subjects of Mathematics and History. After completing her degree she plans to obtain a teaching certificate that will allow her to teach Math and History as a secondary school level.
Sydney Sankey Representing: Quesnel
Before long, this small town girl will be giving up her crown as Quesnel Princess and taking on a bigger hurdle, the real world. In June, Sydney will be graduating from Correlieu Secondary School and will gladly take on the challenge that the University of Northern British Columbia has to offer.
There she will be majoring in International Studies with a minor in Political Sciences. In the future Sydney hopes to pursue a career in Foreign Service with the hopes of
working at aCanadian Embassy in Australia.
Cheryl McLeod Representing: Upper Nicola
Cheryl is presently attending her second year at NVIT learning about all her options. Her interests draw her in many directions and we are so lucky to have so many options. The three options that she is considering are Culinary Arts – Pastry Chef, the RCMP specializing in the K-9R unit or Social Work.
Madelynn Albert Representing: Lytton
Madelynn Albert is proud to be a part of the Nlha”7kapmx and Secwepeme People. She has finished her first year at Nicola Valley Institute of Technology in Business Administration and can’t wait to start her second year. Her educational goals are to learn as much as she can in many different areas and see where that takes her!
Maile Hamilton Representing Cowichan Lake
Maile was fortunate to have grown up in the lovely town of Lake Cowichan. She was honoured to represent her town last year as the Cowichan Lake Second Princess.
In September she will be entering her first year at Vancouver Island University, where she will be completing a Bachelors of Business Administration. From there Maile plans to work for a prominent Canadian company.
In her spare time Maile loves figure skating, volunteering at the Cowichan Lake Sports Arena, snowboarding, and anything that includes being active.
If Maile could experience anything if only once it would be to visit Australia during Canada’s winter months because that is when it is sunniest and warm down under.
One piece of advice Maile would like to share with everyone is: Limitations exist only in our minds. If we use our imaginations our possibilities become limitless.
Natasha Lindsay Spahan Representing the Lower Nicola Indian Band and the Elders 2007 Group,
Natasha Lindsay Spahan was born November 12,1992 in Merritt, BC to parents, Charlene Shackelly and Joe Spahan. She also has one sister, named Tiffany.
After graduation, Natasha would like to attend college to enrol in Business Administration and Culinary Arts so she can open her own bakery: before she settles down, she would like the opportunity to travel and sample all the pastry delights around the world.
She would also like to learn about their cultures so she can understand what their world means to them so she could be sure not to judge them.
Kristel Dubitz Representing: Chase
Kristel was raised in the Village of Chase but has also enjoyed living in Kamloops, Salmon Arm and Grande Prairie, Alberta. She is very happy though to once again to be back in Chase though because he, there is no place quite like home. Kristel graduated from Chase Secondary in 2006, and went on to Thompson Rivers University in the Business Administration program, but after much consideration felt that there were other careers better suited to her out there, so after the first year she went back out in search of a career that better suited her.
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