New Orleans – Shannon Burke

Hey y’all! My name is Shannon Burke, and I am thrilled to have been chosen as the 2016 New Orleans Rose! I am 23 years old, and I am proud to have been born and raised in the great city of New Orleans, Louisiana. Louisiana has so much to offer including the amazing culture and of course, the food! I graduated from Louisiana State University (Go Tigers!) in August of 2015 with an undergraduate degree in Communication Disorders. I am a Registered Line Technician, which has allowed me the pleasure of gaining experience working under talented Behavior Analysts, Speech Pathologists, as well as Occupation Therapists in the Baton Rouge area. I have recently been hired by Autism Spectrum Therapies in New Orleans and hope to attend Graduate School in the near future and pursue a career as a Speech Pathologist. My family and friends mean the world to me. They make up a large part of who I am. Because I am an only child, my friends have always been like siblings. Going to Mardi Gras parades, LSU football games, and out dancing are just a few of the many things we like to do. Everyone has been so supportive and excited for my future trip to Ireland. They are ecstatic that I will finally be going to #1 place to visit on my bucket list! My family is well-known for participating in many activities with the Irish Channel Organization and Parade “krew.” My ancestors came from Galway and made their home stay in New Orleans. From my roots all the way to my name, I am Irish through and through! I cannot wait to represent myself, as well as my city, in the Rose of Tralee International Festival. I hope to take a piece of the Irish charm with me to have and to hold forever!