Nicole Ugoeke

Nicole is 16 years old and a Grade 11 student at St. Ann’s Academy. She would like to send a heartfelt thank you to her generous sponsor, Falcon Lanes. Nicole moved to Kamloops at the age of 13 and found that the warmth and kindness of the community made it easy to integrate into a new environment. That sense of welcome helped her build a strong support system, both within the community and at home, especially with her four amazing brothers, who keep life interesting and full of laughter! St. Ann’s has played a huge role in shaping who Nicole is and who she hopes to become. She loves that students are uplifted through academics, extracurriculars and a shared Catholic faith. Within the school and wider society, she’s participated in many volunteer efforts. These include supporting local food banks, youth fundraisers and community events, as well as participating in cultural celebrations and alumni initiatives. Nicole also takes on leadership roles at school, such as peer tutoring junior students, especially in mathematics.  Her love for math and science and her desire to help others has inspired her to pursue a career in medicine. In her spare time, she enjoys playing tennis and basketball. Reading, creative journaling, photography, baking and exploring nature are all activities that keep Nicole grounded and happy! She joined the Kamloops Ambassador Program to challenge herself, grow her confidence and serve as a positive role model in our community. She hopes to develop strong leadership and communication skills and to build new friendships that are uplifting and inspire change!

Quinn is in Grade 11 at Kamloops School of the Arts. He is 17 years old and is an only child. He is thrilled to be representing the Kamloops Art Gallery, which is a fitting partnership, as Quinn is very artistic and excels in many different disciplines! He enjoys musical theatre and was a part of the 2024 Laughing Stock Christmas play. Quinn is also a member of the school choir and has special training in drama from the Trinity College of London’s acting classes. His goal, while still in high school, is to do well in media arts so that he can continue on in that field and become a filmmaker. You can tell film is a passion, as Quinn has a volunteer job at the Paramount Theatre! In his spare time, he likes to draw and sketch and loves photography. Quinn joined the Kamloops Ambassador Program upon suggestion from his school administration, who felt that it would be a great experience for him, and a way to develop his talents and connections within the community. He is looking forward to making new friends and strengthening his social network as well as meeting many new faces in Kamloops!

Quinn Nair

Lizzie Harbaruk

Lizzie is 16 years old and is in Grade 11 at Valleyview Secondary. She is grateful for her sponsor, CentreCore HVAC Services. Lizzie is the youngest of 3 in her family, having two older brothers, Jackson and Tyler. She has been playing hockey since the age of 6 and has developed many lifelong friendships through her teammates. Lizzie has been working at Valleyview McDonald’s for the past two years and also holds her Level 2 Hockey Officials Certificate. Lizzie is hoping to finish high school with an academic gold cord, something she has been striving for since Grade 10. She will apply for the Elementary Education Program at Thompson Rivers University after graduation, with the goal of becoming an elementary school teacher. In her spare time, Lizzie enjoys musical theater, baking and cooking, hanging out with her best friends, shopping and singing. And of course, her love of Taylor Swift is top of the list! She joined the Kamloops Ambassador Program because she appreciates all of the volunteer opportunities it presents and wants to develop her public speaking skills. Learning more about Kamloops and creating new friendships are also positive takeaways from the program. She wishes the best of luck to her fellow candidates!

Peyton is proud to be sponsored by her amazing employer, Red Tomato Pies. She’d like to thank Jill and Tyler for not only being supportive of her journey as a Candidate, but also for accommodating her busy schedule! Peyton is 16 years old and is in Grade 11 at Kamloops School of the Arts. One of her biggest passions is theatre. She’s been acting since she was seven years old, where she started by performing in pantos with the Laughing Stock Theatre. For the past five years, she has been training with Western Canada Theatre’s Stage One Theatre School. Theatre is a big part of Peyton’s life. Looking to the future, Peyton is interested in pursuing post-secondary studies in either Psychology or Theater – two fields that would allow her to explore human stories in meaningful ways. In her spare time, she loves reading mystery novels, playing volleyball and tennis with her friends, acting and has recently been hooked on true crime podcasts! Peyton joined the Kamloops Ambassador Program because she wanted to learn about our incredible city and everything it has to offer. She is grateful to all of the volunteers that make the program happen. Peyton is glad she has had the opportunity to meet new friends in her fellow candidates and is thankful to them for making this journey so memorable!

Peyton Woods

Shea Sparks

Shea is 16 years old and attends Valleyview Secondary School. She is grateful to her sponsor, Detailed Inspections. To say that Shea is a golf enthusiast, is an understatement! Shea has been a member of the Valleyview Secondary Golf Team for the past 3 years. She is also a member at the Kamloops Golf & Country Club. This summer, Shea will be joining the Maple Leaf Jr. Golf Tour and will be participating in competitive junior golf tournaments around BC, including one at Rivershore Golf and Country Club here in Kamloops! When Shea is not on the golf course, she volunteers time over the summer as a youth leader at Camp Grafton and is a volunteer at Royal Inland Hospital once a week, where she has learned a lot about healthcare and community service. After graduation, Shea plans to attend Thompson Rivers University to pursue a business degree. Inspired by a visit to the United Nations in New York City, she has a special interest in International Business. Shea joined the Kamloops Ambassador Program with two main goals in mind: to improve her public speaking skills and to learn more about Kamloops. She hopes to gain a greater understanding of our community’s needs, to give back through service and representation and to expand her volunteer experiences. Shea wishes best of luck to all of her fellow candidates!