Osoyoos winner
Lissa Murseli won the title of B.C. Ambassador in a pageant that took place in Merritt this past weekend.
Murseli will represent Osoyoos as B.C. Ambassador, along with co-ambassadors Laura Pedersen of Nanaimo and Alyssa Moritz of Kamloops.
The three were chosen from a total of 14 candidates who competed for the honour.
Murseli was the third ambassador announced Saturday night, which rattled the nerves of her mother, Anne Murseli.
It's a relief now because she has worked so hard and is so deserving of the honour. But then, I might be a bit biased, Anne reported.
The pageant was held over Friday and Saturday nights, with the candidates competing in an exam, as well as a written essay, and a speech and talent performed before the judges. Murseli's speech was entitled Be the Difference that Makes the Difference and her talent presentation was the recital of Shel Silverstein's poem The Giving Tree.
The impromptu question Murseli responded to had to do with what she considered to be the most valuable resource in her town and what can be done to protect it.
Not surprisingly, Murseli, the Town of Osoyoos Water Smart Coordinator, named Osoyoos' aquifer as the most valuable resource.
Murseli was also a knowledge and a public speaking award winner.
By Saturday evening, all the competitors were so tense and exhausted, but everyone did a good job, said Anne Murseli.
Lissa and her co-ambassadors are expected to attend at least 10 pageants throughout the year.
The candidates taking part in this year's pageant were phenomenal, Lissa Murseli said.
I am very excited about my upcoming year as a B.C. Ambassador. The other two members of the Ambassador Team and I are looking forward to representing the province in many communities through volunteering and leadership.
It is our goal to make a positive difference, and we want to see this program grow even more over the next year.rnMurseli also thanked her sponsors Smitty's Restaurant, Osoyoos Baptist Church and Home Hardware for their support.
