Blakeley Bourke, a recent graduate of Mercer Island High School, is set to begin her next academic and athletic chapter at St. Olaf College in Northfield, Minnesota. There, she will join the college’s soccer program while pursuing a degree that will eventually lead her to become a certified registered nurse anesthetist.
Navigating Sound and Silence
Bourke’s journey has been shaped by a mild to moderate bilateral hearing loss, a condition she has managed with hearing aids since childhood. Rather than limiting her, the challenge has fueled her involvement with the U.S. Women’s Deaf National Team, where she trains alongside athletes who share her experience of navigating sound and silence.
Off the field, Bourke has devoted more than 400 hours to community service through the National Charity League’s Lake Washington chapter, logging 405 hours over six years. Her volunteer efforts support causes she holds dear, including Listen & Talk, YouthCare, and Sound Foundations, organizations that amplify voices often unheard.
Family pride anchors her ambitions; her mother, Kirsten Bourke, frequently cites her daughter’s tenacity and independent spirit as a source of inspiration. A fan of the blockbuster film 'Top Gun: Maverick,' Bourke dreams of one day visiting the turquoise waters of Turks and Caicos, a vacation spot that mirrors her own aspirations for adventure and impact.
Dreams Beyond the Field
Beyond her academic and athletic goals, Bourke harbors a playful side, expressing a desire to master a backflip and to wield the superpower of flight. She jokes that her biggest pet peeve is slow walkers, a reminder that even in a busy college environment, she remains attuned to the small details that shape daily life.
As she steps onto the St. Olaf campus, Bourke carries with her a clear vision: to excel on the soccer pitch, to earn a nursing credential, and to use her platform to advocate for hearing accessibility. The convergence of sport, service, and scholarship defines a path that promises to resonate far beyond the college years.