PVCC student to run for state legislature in 2010
By Charity Parker, November 2009
Community Editor
Photo by Charity Parker |
| Student Nick Burr became active in service on and off PVCC's campus last year. |
Your eyes scan over the pages of your history book as you cram your head full of names and dates for an upcoming test. Hours pass as you study before you realize that you still need to take some time to plan an upcoming event you have with the College Republicans. After about an hour or so, you glance down at your schedule and realize that you have to begin working on ideas for a big campaign. Like most students your head is probably swimming by now as you rifle through pages trying to figure out which notes belong to which event or class. This is the reality for Paradise Valley Community College student Nick Burr.
Burr, a 24-year-old student, began getting heavily involved on campus and off nearly a year ago and is working toward a seat in the State House of Representatives for District 6. About June of this year, Burr began aligning himself with various influential and political officials. People such as: MCCCD Governing Board member, Debra Pearson, and Senator John McCain.
Such involvement has afforded Burr invaluable experience, he says. This has helped to strengthen his networking skills and allows him to gain firsthand experience from the pros. These connections have helped in his decision to run for state legislature in 2010.
Thanks to the connections he has made working for such prominent figures, Burr has helped to ensure a little more support in his political campaign.
In addition to working for influential figures, Burr also devotes his time to: the Arizona Young Republican League, the North Valley Republican Chapter and the National Young Republican League. On campus Burr is involved with organizations such as: Phi Theta Kappa, Presidential Search Committee, Student Leadership Council, Peer Mentoring and College Success.
Burr has already led a successful 9/11 campaign with Phi Theta Kappa with help from the Young Republicans, another of Burr's on campus affiliations that provided the 3,000 flags that decorated PVCC's campus. By pairing the two organizations, Burr managed to help reduce costs and raise more money for the Veterans Club as well as PTK. His is the mind that helped think up PVCC's upcoming Puma Games, which will take place from Oct. 26 to Nov. 5.
"I'm impressed with his ingenuity," said Mike Ho, PVCC’s Student Life program director.
The Puma Games will host several games and events for club teams as well as student teams. Prizes will be awarded for winners and money will be raised for United Way. Burr believes that this will be a great way to build unity among clubs signing up as teams and for clubs to get out there and help make themselves known to students.
Burr said that his inspiration for the event and his method of organization came from his hands on experience with last year's Howl-A-Palooza. College Success is a new challenge for Burr in which he has paired up with Corey Loucy, coordinator of Enrollment Services, to help college freshmen stay in school. College success is a major focus for Burr in his upcoming campaign.
In fact, this is the driving issue for his campaign. He would like to see students take the reigns more often and for them to create their own road to follow. He believes that at the college level, students need to start assuming the role of adults and therefore should be the ones to step up and lead. It is his belief that the earlier teens learn responsibility, the more likely they are to succeed. Burr would also like to see a change made in the degree-oriented education system. He says that there is far too much emphasis placed on attaining a degree as opposed to the knowledge that comes from having obtained it.
"We're going through the motions rather than advancing our lives," said Burr. "There needs to be more accountability."
Burr is already hard at work seeking campaign contributions and looking for organizations to partner with. He has already gained a lot of support from District 6 and is working hard to recruit teammates. His focus will be on motivated youth from all over Arizona to help with the campaign: fitting, considering his image as a young candidate, which he feels actually gives him an advantage. Burr wants to be a voice for this generation and to help institute changes that will be for the better.
"I've always felt like there was a lack of representation for our youth," said Burr.
He wants to inspire and empower the next generation so that everyone will benefit.
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