Council and Youth Focus Committee present Vincent Zhao with 2025 Youth Scholarship Award

On July 22, 2025, City Council members and Youth Focus Committee Past Chair Jonas McConville presented Coquitlam resident Vincent Zhao, who graduated from Port Moody Secondary School (PMSS) in June, with the 2025 Youth Scholarship Award.

“On behalf of City Council and the Youth Focus Committee, I’d like to congratulate Vincent as he gets ready to start his next chapter,” said Mayor Meghan Lahti. “Vincent plans to study computer science at Simon Fraser University as well as business through SFU’s Beedie School of Business. We wish him all the best and know that he has set himself up for success through hard work and determination, a strong dedication to sport and volunteerism, and a desire to make a difference in the community. The Youth Scholarship Award recognizes leadership, contributions to school and community, and excellence in academics, athletics, arts, or technical education. We’re very pleased to present Vincent with a $1,000 scholarship to help him continue to learn and explore new goals as he moves on to post-secondary education.”

For the past three years, Vincent has been an active member of the City of Port Moody’s Youth Focus Committee, serving as chair for the 2023-2024 term. Vincent’s leadership, organization, and strong communication skills helped guide the committee’s contributions to many events, such as the Tri-City REACH Awards, Port Moody’s 3 on 3 Basketball Tournament and, most recently, the Mayor’s Youth Summit, where Vincent was a co-facilitator in one of the workshops. He was also part of a TEDx event in 2024, leading a session on breaking barriers. Rounding out his volunteer work, Vincent has spent numerous hours volunteering with Coquitlam’s Bad Seed program, helping to remove invasive plants.

Vincent is a graduate of the International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma Program at PMSS. One of his greatest academic achievements was earning the highest grade in his IB Physics class, where he developed a strong work ethic and increased his self-confidence.

Vincent was an active member of the senior boys’ varsity basketball team at PMSS. His experiences in this sports program helped him develop a sense of teamwork, discipline, and perseverance. He also coached basketball with the Tri-City Youth Basketball Association, where he had the opportunity to continue developing his leadership and mentorship skills.

Each year, the City of Port Moody awards a $1,000 scholarship to a student who intends to pursue post-secondary education after Grade 12. Learn more about the Youth Scholarship Program at portmoody.ca.