Katie Howell named as 2014 Shining Stars Tigard Youth Volunteer

Katie Howell has been selected as the 2014 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 was 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!Katie is actively involved in helping others across the community and at Tigard High School.  Through the National Honor Society, St. Francis Youth Group, Key Club and the OMSI Rising Star program alone, Katie has logged over 600 volunteer hours in the last 4 years.   She is also active as both a Tigard Public Library Volunteer and a Destination Imagination Volunteer.  Other volunteer activities within Tigard High have included STOP Club Officer, Unity Team Member, ELL Tutor and LINK Leader.  As the National Honor Society Advisor, Katie has been a strong standout member of NHS, and has set high standards for the school’s student leadership, leading by example with both a focus on her studies and community work.
n addition to working with all of the above groups and programs, Katie has led volunteer activities/projects on several occasions focused on those in need whether human or animal including a pet supply drive for the Oregon Humane Society and more recently a toy drive for low income families during the 2013 holiday season.  The majority of Katie’s volunteer activities are focused on helping others whether it is doing yard work for the elderly and making meals for homeless through her youth group, planning events at school focused on anti-bullying or helping incoming Freshmen through LINK, or teaching/educating children through volunteer work with the OMSI Rising Star program, Destination Imagination and vacation bible school.  She truly believes in serving and helping others.
In addition to her volunteer and community involvement, Katie is among the top 5% of students academically at Tigard High, with a large number of IB classes as part of her class load.  Even with all this, Katie has still found the time to spend 12 hours/week performing with the Portland Youth Ballet Senior Performing Company  for the last year and half and attending Summer Ballet Intensive training for 4 summers in a row.
As evidenced by her volunteerism, Katie has a passion for others and for putting them first.  With this natural inclination to help others, it is no surprise that Katie is seeking a career in the non-profit sector. She plans on receiving her Bachelor’s degree in a field that will help her achieve her goal of non-profit work and hopes to eventually use her talents to start a business providing mobile ultrasounds for the underserved, particularly teen mothers.  
Please join us in congratulating Katie on this well-deserved award.  Her award will be formally presented with other Tigard volunteer and business awards at Tigard’s 2014 Shining Stars Community Awards Celebration, sponsored by Platinum Title Sponsor Washington Federal and held on Friday, April 25th from 5:30-9 p.m. at Embassy Suites – Washington Square, event location host. With a theme of “Get Your Groove On”, this 1960’s themed dinner event includes dinner, silent auction, dessert dash, awards, and more. Tickets are only $35/person, dress is casual, 1960’s.  So grab some groovy gear 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 debi@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.