Allison Burke named 2013 Tigard Shining Stars Youth Volunteer of the Year

Allison Burke has been selected as the 2013 Shining Stars Tigard Youth Volunteer of the Year, named in honor of former Mayor Jim Nicoli, who passed away in 2000. Mayor Nicoli’s dedication to the youth of our community made this scholarship a fitting way to honor his name and award a youth in our community who volunteers to make a difference. Many young people in Tigard are active in volunteer efforts and it is our pleasure to acknowledge their contributions of dedication, energy and community spirit. They are the future!
Allison is actively involved in helping others within the community and TigardHigh School.  Through the National Honor Society, the Tigard Youth Advisory Council, and the Tigard High Thespian troupe alone, Allison has logged over 900 volunteer hours.   She is also active as a Key Club volunteer, D.A.R.E  camp counselor, LINK Crew Leader, Northwest Family Services peer mentor, and Tigard tennis team captain.  She is an active communicator and leader both at Tigard High and the Tigard community at large.  
This year, Allison was elected President of the City of Tigard Youth Advisory Council, which works to “empower, improve and connect the lives of Tigard’s youth,” and is the official advisory body on youth issues to the Tigard City Council.  Through this organization Allison has heard and given input on the development of community programs and activities that empower youth in the area.  Allison has led volunteer activities and community events throughout the city.  Most notably she started the Backpack Project, which raised funds to pay for a backpack full of food each weekend for children in need at Metzger and DurhamElementary Schools.
In addition to acting as a voice in her broader community, Allison has promoted communication between students and administration at TigardHigh School through involvement in the Principle’s Student Advisory Council.  This group formed so TigardHigh School’s Principle, Mark Neffendorf, could hear the voice of students, and promotes student input and ideas to put to the Tigard School Board. 
While Allison represents her peers to adults in her community through these organizations, she also cares about reaching out to younger students and helping them transition into the high school environment.  She is a LINK Crew Leader, a TigardHigh school leadership program that assists incoming freshman with transition to high school.  As a DARE camp counselor for the last 3 summers, Allison volunteered at the camp which is committed to supporting middle school students build self esteem through interactions with positive role models.  She also mentored students on sexual health and abstinence through Northwest Family Services.
In addition to her community involvement Allison is Captain of the Tigard High Varsity Tennis Team, is active in Tigard High School Student Government, Orchestra, Portland City Stage’s Teen Theater Council, and Tigard High’s International Baccalaureate Program.
With a natural inclination to help others, it is no surprise that Allison is seeking a career in medicine.  She plans on receiving her Bachelor’s degree in Nursing, and hopes to eventually use her talents to help low-income families and individuals receive affordable health care.  During her college years she hopes to spend a semester studying abroad so she can hone her Spanish skills and gain a global perspective than will enhance her ability to serve locally.                                                                                      
Please join us in congratulating Allison on this well-deserved award.  Her award will be formally presented with other Tigard volunteer and business awards at Tigard’s 2013 Shining Stars Community Awards Celebration, sponsored by Platinum Title Sponsor Washington Federal and held on Friday, April 26th from 5:30-9 p.m. at Embassy Suites – Washington Square, event location host. With a theme of “Wild Wild West”, this western themed dinner event includes dinner, silent auction, dessert dash, awards, and more. Tickets are only $35/person, dress is casual, country western.  So cowboy/cowgirl up and come join us to celebrate Tigard!
For further details about Shining Stars, please contact the Tigard Area Chamber of Commerce at 503-639-1656 or at info@tigardchamber.org  or go to our webpage at www.tigardchamber.org 
About Tigard Area Chamber of Commerce (TACC)
The Tigard Chamber (TACC) is a tool that enables and equips your business to be more nimble, reach farther, grow faster and stay ahead of the competition. Our over 300 member businesses that are part of the Tigard Chamber, an elite 10% of Tigard’s business community, not only leverage each other, but each of these members’ connections and knowledge, as well. It is exponential. If you have a business challenge, question or idea, you are not alone as part of the Tigard Chamber. The TACC provides for its members: Connections & Credibility, Learning, Business Advocacy, Cost Savings, Hot Deals and Community Involvement!