This year there are 10 candidates for the White Rock Youth Ambassador Program team 2013. The contestants will form the new ambassador team and spend the next year volunteering throughout Surrey and White Rock. The leadership roles available this year are Miss White Rock as well as two Princesses, as there was no male contestant this year.
The Aug. 2 gala will kick off the Spirit of the Sea festival, with ambassadors participating in the evening procession on Sunday.
The gala will also be a time to honour WRYA co-chair Donna Beaudry, who was recently recognized for her work with youth with a Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Medal.
Tickets for the gala are $25 and are available through Debbie Ward, 604-538-2780. Ticket price includes coffee, cold cuts and dessert.
Biographies
Mhargielyn Balancio
Peace Arch News
Mhargielyn is an Elgin Park Secondary student with strong roots in the Philippines. The 16-year-old full-time honour student speaks Ilocano and Taglog and is set to graduate in 2015.
Mhargielyn enjoys sports like volleyball, basketball, soccer, badminton, football and more.
Hannah Leeder
White Rock Elks Lodge #431
Hannah is a Semiahmoo Secondary student set to graduate next year. The 16-year-old plans to go to post-secondary to prepare to be a nurse.
Hannah travels extensively with her fellow jazz and concert band mates and often makes use of her conversational Spanish.
She has volunteered for the YMCA and the Canadian Cancer Society, as well as a number of other organizations.
Alice Chou
Peace Arch Monarch Lions
Alice, 16, was born in Taipei, Taiwan but now resides in South Surrey with her mom, dad and two sisters.
The Elgin Park Secondary honour student sit on the Elgin Park Student Council, Peer Leadership Council and has been working on an anti-bullying initiative.
Set to graduate next year, Alice also assists with the Surrey School District Reading Buddy Program, helping ESL elementary students.
Jazlyn Melnychuk
White Rock Players’ Club
Jazlyn Melnychuk, 16, is an Earl Marriott Secondary student set to graduate next year and pursue an education in politics and international affairs.
The French immersion student aims to work with an organization such as the United Nations.
The ‘Super G’ honour roll student presented a news segment for Radio Canada earlier this year and volunteers her time making and delivering flower arrangements to Surrey Memorial Hospital.
Angela Lu
Windsor Square
Angela was born in China and currently attends Semiahmoo Secondary. The multilingual teen has volunteered at BC Children’s Hospital and participated in a debating tournament.
Angela, 16, enjoys a range of hobbies including dancing, drawing, and volleyball.
Soohyun Kim
White Rock Museum & Archives
Soohyun is a Semiahmoo Secondary student set to graduate from the Baccalaureate Program next year.
Born in South Korea, the 17-year-old plans to pursue post-secondary education in medicine or science.
Soohyun volunteers her time heading the Semiahmoo Science Club and acting as secretary of the Semiahmoo Earthworks Club.
She also volunteers at First United Church as a youth ambassador where she assists with the Sunday service.
Soohyun also took home bronze in the Duke of Edinburgh awards.
Christina Chung
White Rock Lioness
Christina, 17, is an Earl Marriott Secondary student set to graduate next year. The multilingual teen is already fluent in Korean and English, and is expanding her studies to including French and Mandarin.
Christine is interested in pursuing a post-secondary education in medicine, especially surgery.
Christina participated in the Science Co-Op Program, Stanford Model United Nations, student government, Green Giants Environmental and the Earl Marriott Press.
She has also spent summers as a camp counselor with the Korean Central Presbyterian Church and manages the senior boys’ basketball team.
Justine Wiklo
Re/Max Colonial
Justine was born and raised in White Rock and is set to graduate from Earl Marriott Secondary next year.
The French immersion student plans to attend university to pursue a degree.
Her favourite areas of study in school are humanities, the co-op program and psychology.
Justine, 17, has volunteered for OWL assisting in feeding and cleaning the birds, as well as other volunteer work.
Margaret Yao
Seung-Ri Academy
Margaret is an Elgin Park Secondary student set to graduate next year.
The 16-year-old was born in Shan Xi, China and can speak Mandarin. The teen is also focusing on studying French and Korean.
Margaret volunteers at Elgin Park for the Canadian Cancer Youth Society, student council, peer leadership counseling and has designed and painted banners for school fundraisers.
Tatyana Smetheram
Royal Canadian Legion #8
Tatyana is an Earl Marriott Secondary student set to graduate next year.
The 16-year-old sits on the student government and participated in the Miles for Smiles Fundraiser for Semiamoo House, directing athletes and ensuring safety of the runners. She has also worked both front of house and backstage with the EMS Theatre Company.
Tatyana’s passions include singing, dancing, and piano.