Anyone who knows Tamaqua's Kyle Whitley wasn't surprised to hear he was named the winner of the 2016 Joseph M. Plasko Citizenship Award, presented by the Tamaqua Area Chamber of Commerce.

It's also not surprising to hear he feels embarrassed about the recognition of his volunteer efforts.Whitley has been volunteering his time and talents around the borough for more than 10 years, an amazing accomplishment considering he's only 26 years old. His goal is to celebrate all things Tamaqua, something he does everyday.Whether he's helping at the Tamaqua Community Art Center, the Tamaqua Historical Society, Bethany Evangelical Congregational Church or creating free art work and social media presences for businesses and nonprofit organizations, Whitley lives by his favorite quote - "You can design and create, and build the most wonderful place in the world. But it takes people to make the dream a reality," from Walt Disney.Like the rest of us, he finds things to complain about, but unlike many who complain, he then works to find a solution.His appreciation of local history, art, architecture and natural beauty is showcased on his Photo Journey website and Facebook page, which have been described as a visual love letter to the Tamaqua area.The son of the Rev. Kevin and Danette Roberts wears many hats. He's willing to do whatever it takes to shine a light on his hometown and its assets.He shies away from the spotlight, sitting in the shadows, even allowing others to take credit for his actions. When asked why he doesn't take credit for all he does, his answer is simply, "Because it's not about me."Instead, he says, "Tamaqua is not shining as brightly as it used to, but that's why we (volunteers) do what we do. We can make it shine brightly again."The citizenship award will be presented on April 27, during the 64th Annual Tamaqua Chamber of Commerce and TIDE Dinner, which will be held at the Mountain Valley Golf Club in Barnesville. Cocktails will be served at 5:30 p.m. with the dinner scheduled for 6:30 p.m.Conrad Flynn, marketing consultant and chief strategist of Concur New Media, will be the keynote speaker. The evening will include the 2016 Tamaqua Community Progress report, offering information, pictures and updates on projects that have been done in the Tamaqua area over the past year.For more information, or reservations, contact the chamber at 570-668-1880 or

chamber@tamaqua.net.