Biggar to receive Mayor’s 2020 Generational Leadership Award

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BROOKINGS – The City of Brookings will recognize the recipient of this year’s 2020 Generational Leadership Award, Ashley Biggar, at Tuesday’s Brookings City Council meeting.

The Mayor’s Generational Leadership Award is given to a community member who has affected the community in the following ways: 

• Positively changes how residents think about the community and city

• Helps Brookings attract and retain young professionals and families

• Motivates new generations to be active in their communities

• Contributes to the advancement and well-being of the community through service in areas such as: education, sports, fundraising, charitable and voluntary service, economic development, arts, and the environment. 

“Ashley Biggar is a shining star and exemplary character of the Generational Leadership Award. Her love for Brookings and South Dakota runs deep and is easily demonstrated in her passion for her career as well as her many volunteer efforts,” according to a City of Brookings press release.

“The award recognizes an individual who has provided strong leadership to the community and continues to grow as a leader for the future,” Brookings Mayor Keith Corbett said. “Ashley exemplifies leadership qualities as she inspires others to grow and give freely of their time and talent. She is truly a servant leader.”

As the director of Downtown Brookings for the Brookings Area Chamber of Commerce, Biggar pursues programming and events that bring joy, delight, people and commerce to Brookings. She has tackled projects head-on, developing new programming like “Keep Clean,” an effort to remove litter in the downtown area working with the Brookings County Drug Court and other groups requiring volunteer hours. She has crafted creative events like the “Great Pumpkin Paint Out,” a program for all ages to paint and display pumpkins in Halloween spirit. 

“The community of Brookings is lucky to have Ashley living and working here, bringing us all up to a cleaner and more beautiful level,” the press release says. 

“Ashley brings a helpful and thoughtful approach to leadership and equally a willingness and eagerness to learn. She takes the time to listen and make sure everyone is included in the conversation. When it’s time to get to work, Ashley is the first to raise her hand and jump in with both feet, often wearing fabulously stylish shoes,” the release continues.

Biggar has dedicated countless hours to volunteer programs in Brookings. For many summers, she has brought her creative talents and skills to the faces of children by painting pictures on their cheeks. 

Throughout the pandemic, Biggar has created larger-than-life A-World-Of-Hearts murals on businesses to bring hope to the community, sharing a message of togetherness and resiliency in this challenging time. 

“Ashley leads by example. She does not shy away from the tough challenges, and she engages with a positivity and cheer. That friendly-attitude and go-getter spirit makes her a natural leader of the people,” the press release said.