Coronado & Wilson High Schools Scholarship Fund

* Posthumously awarded the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal

* Posthumously awarded the Rescue Swimmer Honor Man Award. Since renamed the Nathan Burke Honor Man Award

* Awarded the Navy Recruit Honor Ribbon "for demonstrating superior performance throughout Basic Military Training in academics, physical readiness, recruit leadership, and commitment to Navy core values."

* Lubbock Coronado Strength and Conditioning Coach 2018 – 2020. All sports

* Texas Tech Lady Raiders Basketball Strength and Conditioning Coach 2016 – 2018

* Earned Bachelors (2013) and Masters (2016) degrees in Kinesiology from Texas Tech.

* Member of the 2006 AA Football State Championship Team - Wilson Area High School, Easton PA

Navy Aviation Rescue Swimmer Airman NATHAN RW BURKE is a native of Northeast Pennsylvania and was raised in the Easton, Pennsylvania area. He attended Wilson Area High School and played varsity football all four years. He played tight end, linebacker, and special teams wearing number 23. He was a member of the 2006 AA State Championship Team. After graduating high school, Nathan attended Texas Tech University. He earned his bachelor's and master’s degrees in Kinesiology. After earning his master’s degree, Nathan worked as a strength and conditioning coach for Texas Tech. In April 2018, he accepted the position of Head Strength and Conditioning coach for Lubbock Independent School District. During the Covid lockdown, he felt another calling. In August 2020, he enlisted in the US Navy.

Airman Burke attended basic training at Recruit Training Command, Great Lakes, IL. As a recruit, Nathan utilized his coaching experience to motivate his fellow recruits. In the evenings he continued to mentor, pray, and read the bible with his fellow and younger recruits. He excelled in basic training and was awarded The Recruit Honor Ribbon “for demonstrating superior performance throughout Basic Military Training in the areas of academics, physical readiness, recruit leadership, and commitment to Navy core values.”

After basic training, he reported to Aviation Rescue swimmer School in Pensacola, FL. He remained laser-focused on becoming a Navy Rescue Swimmer. Not only was he determined to complete the training, but he was committed to supporting and encouraging his fellow sailors to “Never Quit.” On April 5th 2021, during a high-risk training evolution, Nathan experienced a medical emergency. He was revived and placed in intensive care. On April 13th he was removed from life support and joined our Lord in paradise. As an organ donor, he continued the Rescue Swimmer motto “So Others May Live”. He was able to provide life-changing donations to countless people.

Airman Burke was posthumously awarded the Rescue Swimmer Honor Man Award, since renamed the Nathan Burke Honor Man Award. He was also awarded the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal for “consistently set the standard of excellence for motivation, compassion, and mentorship, enthusiastically supporting his fellow sailors at every possible opportunity. Drawing upon both faith and his background as a strength and conditioning coach, he devoted countless hours helping shipmates overcome personal and professional challenges, enabling them to complete high-risk and arduous training evolutions. Always a rock in a crisis, his “NEVER QUIT” attitude was contagious and his ability to counsel and motivate were beyond reproach. Airman Burke epitomized the Aviation Rescue Swimmer School motto: “So others may Live.” By his unswerving determination, wise judgment, and complete dedication to duty, Airman Burke reflected credit upon himself [to others] and upheld the highest traditions of the United States Naval Services."