Nehemiah Roldan
Hi, my name is Nehemiah Roldan and I am 6 years old. I was born in Columbia, SC
but most of my family lives in New Jersey. I am half Costa Rican and half African
American. I have 2 brothers and a sister and we are a military family of 22 years.
I am in the first grade at West Lake Elementary.
I like to travel with my family.
I like making new friends.
I like Legos and Black Panther.
My favorite color is black.
My favorite subject is science.
Thank you.
but most of my family lives in New Jersey. I am half Costa Rican and half African
American. I have 2 brothers and a sister and we are a military family of 22 years.
I am in the first grade at West Lake Elementary.
I like to travel with my family.
I like making new friends.
I like Legos and Black Panther.
My favorite color is black.
My favorite subject is science.
Thank you.
Schaefer Parnell
Schaefer Parnell is 6 years old and a 1st grader at Thales Academy in Apex, NC. Schaefer enjoys the stage and performing for an audience any chance he gets. This year, he will be taking a hiatus from his competitive dance career to try acting. He has had the pleasure of singing for audiences all over Apex and hopes to continue to entertain crowds as an Apex Ambassador. Schaefer also enjoys playing soccer and spending time with his three brothers and friends.
Cooper Parnell
Cooper Parnell is 9 years old and a 5th grader at Thales Academy in Apex, NC. He is a straight A student, member of the Duke Tips program for the Academically Gifted, and on the Science Olympiad team. His hobbies include playing drawing, writing, playing video games and running. Cooper is the oldest of 4 brothers and enjoys spending time with friends and his large extended family. Cooper greatest accomplishment has been collecting and donating over 800lbs of food to the Western Wake Crisis Center. He is excited about representing the Town of Apex as one of it's first Ambassadors.
Cadence D'Aurelio
Cadence is extremely proud to be joining the Apex Ambassadors team. She has lived in Apex her whole life and is in the 4th grade at Laurel Park Elementary in Apex. Cadence attends church in Apex where she is in the children’s choir, takes drum lessons and is in the AWANA Club.
Softball is one of Cadence’s favorite activities. When she is not out on the field playing with her teammates, the Diamonds, she can be found in the backyard practicing her pitching and hitting. Cadence helped her team win the Apex Championship game this past Spring Season.
Cadence has also been involved in several other school and extracurricular activities over the years, including Robotics Team, Y-Guides, Soccer, Lacrosse, Golf and Dance. Her Robotics Team proudly brought home the Judges Award for their creativity and dedication at their very first competition.
Giving back to others and the community is something Cadence loves to do. She has volunteered with a number of non-profit organizations and has selected FARMs for School Meals as her main focus this year. The FARMs for School Meals Organization gives local schools what they need to buy more North Carolina-grown food for the students and give schools the flexibility to provide meals to those unable to pay.
Cadence is extremely proud to be joining the Apex Ambassadors team. She has lived in Apex her whole life and is in the 4th grade at Laurel Park Elementary in Apex. Cadence attends church in Apex where she is in the children’s choir, takes drum lessons and is in the AWANA Club.
Softball is one of Cadence’s favorite activities. When she is not out on the field playing with her teammates, the Diamonds, she can be found in the backyard practicing her pitching and hitting. Cadence helped her team win the Apex Championship game this past Spring Season.
Cadence has also been involved in several other school and extracurricular activities over the years, including Robotics Team, Y-Guides, Soccer, Lacrosse, Golf and Dance. Her Robotics Team proudly brought home the Judges Award for their creativity and dedication at their very first competition.
Giving back to others and the community is something Cadence loves to do. She has volunteered with a number of non-profit organizations and has selected FARMs for School Meals as her main focus this year. The FARMs for School Meals Organization gives local schools what they need to buy more North Carolina-grown food for the students and give schools the flexibility to provide meals to those unable to pay.
Olivia Breakey
Olivia is a fourth grader who loves school and excels academically. Her favorite school subject is reading, and she is very proud of the fact that she completed the entire Harry Potter series in less than one month! She also is a member of her school's Science Olympiad team. Olivia enjoys playing sports such as basketball and soccer, and she dances with The Academy for the Performing Arts (APA) in Apex, where she studies several dance disciplines. One of Olivia's favorite dancers and a source of inspiration is Misty Copeland.
OIivia's favorite colors are red, blue and purple, and she loves dogs (the cutest things on earth) and unicorns. This summer, she mastered diving off a diving board on the first try, and this exemplifies Olivia's positive, adventurous and determined spirit. Olivia has a compassionate heart, and she spends her spare time creating "Get Well" cards and friendship bracelets for children who are sick and under hospital care. She is extremely proud to serve as an Apex Ambassador and represent her wonderful hometown.
OIivia's favorite colors are red, blue and purple, and she loves dogs (the cutest things on earth) and unicorns. This summer, she mastered diving off a diving board on the first try, and this exemplifies Olivia's positive, adventurous and determined spirit. Olivia has a compassionate heart, and she spends her spare time creating "Get Well" cards and friendship bracelets for children who are sick and under hospital care. She is extremely proud to serve as an Apex Ambassador and represent her wonderful hometown.
Danica Godfrey
Danica is an active 12 year- old middle school student at Apex Middle School. Born in Miami, Florida, Dani moved to Apex with her parents Aimee and Jim in 2007.While attending Apex Middle, Dani was a First in Fitness participant and she is currently on the Middle School Honor Roll.
In addition to school activities, she dances competitively for the Academy for the Performing Arts. Dani has earned numerous awards and scholarships over the past 9 years, including being named Outstanding Dancer National Finalist in New York City in 2018 and 6th overall Junior Super Star Soloist. She is also a designated Teacher’s assistant and Camp Counselor at the Academy for the Performing Arts.
Dani also devotes time to community service activities such as dance and choral events at Assisted Living facilities, fundraising for hurricane relief and the American Heart Association.
Dani wants to attend North Carolina State University upon graduation from high school, where she hopes to study veterinary medicine. Her goal is to someday open a local veterinary practice.
In addition to school activities, she dances competitively for the Academy for the Performing Arts. Dani has earned numerous awards and scholarships over the past 9 years, including being named Outstanding Dancer National Finalist in New York City in 2018 and 6th overall Junior Super Star Soloist. She is also a designated Teacher’s assistant and Camp Counselor at the Academy for the Performing Arts.
Dani also devotes time to community service activities such as dance and choral events at Assisted Living facilities, fundraising for hurricane relief and the American Heart Association.
Dani wants to attend North Carolina State University upon graduation from high school, where she hopes to study veterinary medicine. Her goal is to someday open a local veterinary practice.
Kaya Li
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Kaya Li is a 7th grader in the Salem Middle School. Kaya is very good at math and an active member in the school math team. She received the highest score of the entire school in the American Mathematics Competitions (AMC 8) 2019 and ranked top 1% nationally two years in a row. AMC 8 is a national math competition with tens of thousands of students participating each year. Kaya loves music. She started playing piano at the age of seven, and switched to violin four years ago, which she is really passionate about. She is a violin leader in Concert String Orchestra at Duke University String School. She plans to share her music by playing at downtown Apex and senior homes. She is always ready serving the community and helping others in need. When she was in the fourth grade, Kaya raised nearly $500 for her elementary school by going door to door and reaching out 100 people. She also tried to help feed hungry children in Haiti by raising fund and volunteering to package hundreds of meals for non-profit organizations. Kaya also loves gaming and animals. When she grows up, she wants to be a doctor in order to help people with unmet medical needs. She always believes that you don’t get what you wish for, and you get what you work for.
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Taylor Spies
Taylor is currently sixteen years old and will be a junior at Middle Creek High School. She has accomplished many things in her life. Her achievements include the National Junior Honor Society at Holly Ridge Middle School, being in the Engineering and Design Academy at Middle Creek High School and participating in the capstone program for seminar and research.
Taylor has participated in many community service opportunities throughout her life. She has recently created a food pantry at her school and set up a way to receive donations for it. Taylor also volunteers by assisting a dance class to share her love of dance with students who have special needs. Her goals and aspirations in life is to become a renewable energy engineer.
Taylor has participated in many community service opportunities throughout her life. She has recently created a food pantry at her school and set up a way to receive donations for it. Taylor also volunteers by assisting a dance class to share her love of dance with students who have special needs. Her goals and aspirations in life is to become a renewable energy engineer.
Anvi Bannuru
Hello! My name is Avni Bannuru and I am a senior at Apex High School. I was born in Danbury, CT but moved to the Apex area when I was 3 years old, and have stayed here ever since. It truly is the PEAK of good living and I am proud to call this place my home! In school, I love to stay active by participating in various clubs, including holding an executive position in my school’s DECA chapter. Outside of school, I love to sing, play instruments like guitar, piano, and ukulele, cook delicious food, and give back to my community through initiatives in my nonprofit organization, 4BetterTomorrow Foundation. This nonprofit organization focuses on education and children based initiatives, as these are causes I feel passionate about. I conduct community service projects at places like local senior centers and have also had the opportunity to raise money for amazing organizations including Make-A-Wish Foundation, and a school for special needs kids in India. Fun Fact about me- I authored a cookbook in 2016, called Avni’s Kitchen, whose sales also contributed to raise money for 4BetterTomorrow Foundation. Check out the cookbook here: https://www.amazon.com/Avnis-Kitchen-Avni-Bannuru/dp/0692905014/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=Avni%27s+kitchen&qid=1563134333&s=gateway&sr=8-1
I am so grateful for this opportunity to be an Apex Ambassador, and am excited for the year ahead!
I am so grateful for this opportunity to be an Apex Ambassador, and am excited for the year ahead!
Samantha Townsend
Samantha Townsend has spent her entire life in Apex, NC. She is seventeen and is the oldest of four biological siblings, as well as the oldest foster sister to six children to date. By the end of this year, her family will have adopted a sibling group of four, making her the oldest of eight siblings!
Samantha is a Senior in High School who is dual-enrolled at Wake Tech Community College. Samantha maintains a 4.0 GPA, is Vice President of Wake Tech’s Math Club, and is the youngest member inaugurated into Phi Theta Kappa, the international academic honor society for two-year colleges. She loves math and science, and plans to pursue an academic and career path toward her PhD in applied mathematics and/or physics.
Samantha tutors all ages and math levels (up to Calculus II), is actively involved in activities at her church, and babysits in her neighborhood. Her passion, however, is being an advocate for children who have been placed in Foster Care. She already attends events throughout Wake County serving to recruit families as foster parents by speaking candidly about her experience as a foster sister. As an Apex Ambassador, she will use this platform to further advocate for children who are in need of temporary housing while a member of their biological family is found in order to provide for them a permanent home. Currently, there are roughly 700 children in foster care in Wake County alone, but only 175 licensed foster homes. Children of all ages – from newborn to teens – are in need of temporary housing stable, loving, homes where family members serve as positive and encouraging role models. If you are interested in garnering more information on how to become a foster home, please visit Wake County’s website at: http://www.wakegov.com/humanservices/children/foster/Pages/default.aspx
Samantha is humbled and delighted to serve as a 2019-2020 Apex Ambassador in the town that is most definitely the peak of good living!
Samantha is a Senior in High School who is dual-enrolled at Wake Tech Community College. Samantha maintains a 4.0 GPA, is Vice President of Wake Tech’s Math Club, and is the youngest member inaugurated into Phi Theta Kappa, the international academic honor society for two-year colleges. She loves math and science, and plans to pursue an academic and career path toward her PhD in applied mathematics and/or physics.
Samantha tutors all ages and math levels (up to Calculus II), is actively involved in activities at her church, and babysits in her neighborhood. Her passion, however, is being an advocate for children who have been placed in Foster Care. She already attends events throughout Wake County serving to recruit families as foster parents by speaking candidly about her experience as a foster sister. As an Apex Ambassador, she will use this platform to further advocate for children who are in need of temporary housing while a member of their biological family is found in order to provide for them a permanent home. Currently, there are roughly 700 children in foster care in Wake County alone, but only 175 licensed foster homes. Children of all ages – from newborn to teens – are in need of temporary housing stable, loving, homes where family members serve as positive and encouraging role models. If you are interested in garnering more information on how to become a foster home, please visit Wake County’s website at: http://www.wakegov.com/humanservices/children/foster/Pages/default.aspx
Samantha is humbled and delighted to serve as a 2019-2020 Apex Ambassador in the town that is most definitely the peak of good living!
Tanner Edwards
As a rising Senior at Wake Early College of Health and Science, Tanner Edwards has had firsthand experience in making the most of unique, life changing opportunities, and he has dedicated his time during high school to creating such experiences for other teenagers in the area. His company, Three Broke Teens, provides part time employment on the weekends for teenagers searching for a way to earn money, as well as skills that will last a lifetime, without interfering with their academic life. In addition to improving the working life of teens, he created the PeakCity Concert as a way to provide young people with a way to connect with those who they may have not had an opportunity to meet, along with providing local teenage artists an opportunity to perform on a stage in front of a live audience.
