Alison Shapin Named 2026 Boyertown Area Senior Student of the Year

by Julie Cordingley

During the school day, being called down to the office can be stressful. Just ask Boyertown senior Alison Shapin. “Uh oh; what did I do?... even though I knew I didn’t do anything. I was just real nervous,” Shapin remembers thinking.

When she arrived, the office was crowded with her principals, her guidance counselor, her Lit teacher, and few others, including someone she didn’t recognize. It turns out that he was there to inform Shapin that she had been selected as the 2026 Boyertown Outstanding Student of the Year.

“Everyone was congratulating me. I was so surprised and honored; it was a bit overwhelming! I didn’t have any idea about the award, but I am really proud to have received it,” gushes Shapin. “But in the back of my mind I kept thinking, I need to get back to class because I may be missing something important!”

And it is THAT attitude Shapin’s teachers certainly recognize from this National Honor Student, AP Student of Distinction, National Merit Scholar Commended Student -- even though she has just been recognized, she would rather not miss class time.

Shapin’s social studies teacher, Mrs. French shares, “I have always been impressed by Alison’s intellectual curiosity and unwavering work ethic…but what truly sets [her] apart is her character. She leads by example.” And those words are mirrored by Mrs. Kratz, a Boyertown School Board member who has sat alongside Shapin during many meetings. Shapin has been the board’s student representative for close to two years, tasked with being the face and voice of the entire student body. As Kratz states, [Alison’s] board reports are timely, informative, and always the most positive part of a school board meeting. She makes sure to highlight the successes of all of her classmates, inclusive of the arts and athletics.

It bothers Shapin to hear talk of young people being called lazy, or apathetic because it is simplifying something that is more nuanced. It is not the whole story. “We lived through the Covid years which messed up pretty much everything. We are living through a lot of chaos right now and many of us just feel that decisions are out of our hands so why bother. But that is unacceptable to me. I would like to be a strong voice in convincing others that there is plenty we can do. I know many are not interested in politics, but politics are certainly are interested in them! It influences every aspect of our lives!”

Shapin readily admits that the world is a little crazy but she feels that is no excuse for inaction. She can attest to the fact that with effort, change can happen as evidence by the $15,000 grant allocated to non-profits for human trafficking prevention and survivor assistance which Shapin helped secure as an integral part of a Youth Advisory Board in Berks County.

Where did this passion come from; why this path? ”Mostly I have to thank my mom for instilling a love of words, and my brother, who is probably the best writer I know. Both somehow made sure that anything I choose to do ultimately has to benefit people. It has to do with the human side of things. Because of my mom, I love using big words. During discussions, my classmates would look at me like, what’s with the big words?, but that’s just how we talked at home, she laughed.

Lately, however, Shapin has been thinking how she could also incorporate her STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) classes into her future plans: to bring the “humanness” to the more fact based. And for that, she lovingly credits her “Boomer” dad, who has worked as a scientist in all manner of projects such as aerospace and nuclear designs. Shapin admits that her dad is not as verbose as her mom, but he did supply her with her first Chemistry set, complete with sulfuric acid -and that has to count for something!

Along with her family’s influence, Shapin feels she has received a great education from Boyertown; first at Gilbertsville Elementary, then East, and finally at BASH. “I wouldn’t say that I am a rah-rah type of student; that school is everything to me, but I must admit that I love learning new things and the challenges that come along with it. I’ve had great teachers that have helped me.” She especially singles out her chemistry teacher, Ms. Donavan, her English Lit teacher, Mr. Repert, and her voice teacher, Mrs. Markofski.

Many colleges want her, but Shapin hasn’t quite made up her mind where she would like to go - whether to a large school like New York University or a smaller, more intimate school like Franklin and Marshall, where her mother and brother graduated. And although she is passionate about political science, lately she has been entertaining the idea of being a pharmaceutical lawyer.

Before Shapin graduates, there is one thing that she hopes her high school considers - -bringing a Civics class back into the curriculum, to bolster what it means to be a good citizen. It is certainly not a secret to those that know her, that she feels very lucky to be living in this country but realizes it does need our help. That is when we see evidence of her conviction, as she paraphrases a much-used political quote-- “If not me, then who?” -- and mean it!

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