Arizonans at The Causeway
The Arizona Chapter selected and sent our first Ambassador to Northern Ireland in 2012, and have selected one every year since.
Sarah Hines - 2012
Our very first Ambassador Sarah Hines went on to further represent our state as the 2014 Arizona Colleen and Rose, she has worked at the Arizona State Senate and has traveled the U.S. teaching young people government and leadership skills. She loves dancing and studied dance with a professional Ballet company. She has been a member of C.R.O.F.T, a local Celtic reenacting group.
Kelsey Kelleher - 2013
Since her year Kelsey has served as the Arizona Chapters president and was selected as the 2018 Arizona Colleen and Rose. She studied Theatre Design and Production and Arizona State University, and currently works at the Irish Cultural Center and McClelland library in downtown Phoenix. Kelsey has worked at the Arizona Renaissance festival and even traveled to other festivals around the country. She is currently Miss Phoenix City United States and recently she founded an organization called Forget Us Not, focused on advocating and supporting local cultural communities.
Audrey Sullivan - 2014
Audrey is an actress and dancer with a degree in Theatre Education and a minor in Dance from The University of Northern Arizona. She has worked at Actors Youth Theater and has been in many shows with Hale Theatre her credits include West Side Story (Graziella), A Chorus Line (Cassie), Seven Brides for Seven Brothers (Dorcas) and Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat (Potiphar’s Wife). She is currently a dance and physical education teacher at a local elementary school.
Ciara Archer - 2015
Ciara went on the next year to represent Arizona in Tralee as the 2016 Colleen and Rose, she is also the current chair of the program. She recieved a BA in Journalism and Mass Communication, emphasizing in public relations with a minor in Film and Media Production from the Walter Cronkite School at Arizona State University. She participated in the Disney College program in California, and has also graced the stage at Scottsdale Desert Stages Theatre.
Laddie Guy Shane - 2016
Laddie has a B.S. in Political Science and History Emphasizing in Civic Education from Arizona State University. He has worked as the Deputy Director of Constituent Affairs for Arizona Governor Ducey, as well as Field Director for the Attorney Generals office and as an Office Manager for the Arizona Republican Party. Following our first five ladies Laddie is the first young man we have sent to Ireland. He is the current Arizona Chapters President and works at Spark Solutions USA.
Valerie Shaffer (Hanna) - 2017
Valerie has interned for Jeff Flake, the United Stated Senate and is currently a Mayors Aide at Gilbert Town Hall. In college she was a student senator at the University of Arizona and has continue on in the political world. She is currently serving as the Arizona Chapters Vice-President and since her year has gotten married.
Thomas Chilton - 2018
Thomas is a student at Arizona State University pursuing a Bachelors in Computer Science. Fascinated with technology and how it intersects with culture during his trip to Northern Ireland he booked all his accommodations online and had all digital tickets carried on his phone. He was recently elected the Arizona Chapters Secretary.
"The aim of the Young Ambassador Program is to establish a network of informed and influential individuals throughout North America who can actively represent the northern part of Ireland throughout their lives. Northern Ireland provides an incredibly diverse platform to learn about many social and cultural aspects of contemporary and historical life in Ireland as well as a developing model for community reconciliation which is relevant to many cities in North America. Young Ambassadors will develop a meaningful and on-going relationship with Chapters of the Friends of Saint Patrick, the Saint Patrick Centre and organizations linked to the Program. They will continue to represent them when appropriate throughout the rest of their lives."