Auburn’s Stefanie Burger, a standout student at Central Washington University, is bringing creativity to life in the historic City of Ellensburg.

Burger is leading a documentary production of Main Street Ellensburg. The project was made possible through a partnership between the Ellensburg Downtown Association and the CWU chapter of the Public Relations Student Society of America (PRSSA). Burger and Matthew Ballantyne is leading the student effort as part of their spring internships with the EDA.

This is not Burger’s first internship. She has had the honor of interning with Gov. Gregoire, President Barack Obama and Vice President Joe Biden. She also is the executive vice president of internships & job services for PRSSA at CWU, an executive on the equity and services council on campus and part of two national honor societies.

Burger, daughter of John and Cindy Burger, participated in the Miss Auburn Scholarship Program and was selected Miss Teen Auburn in 2005. She was fifth runner-up for Miss Auburn in early February.

“My only hope is that I can apply what I learn here and keep my hometown of Auburn a vibrant gem,” Burger said. “This community has given me so much, and it’s time I give it something in return.”

The Ellensburg Main Street 2010 project will focus on the 300 block of North Main Street and will include in-depth documentaries of nine businesses located on the block. Students will document the block and the businesses while also conducting interviews with business owners, employees and customers.

“Main Streets all over America have the power to define a community,” Burger said. “We have such a beautiful opportunity to bring light to the rich vibrancy that Ellensburg has to offer both its residents and visitors. I couldn’t be more excited.”

The project will culminate with a feature-length documentary.

In addition, Burger and Ballantyne will be representing their university, hometowns, mentors and friends at the National Main Street Conference in Oklahoma City in May.

“Today’s media is full of references about Main Street, but most of the discussion is about Main Street vs. Wall Street with very little attention to the real places called Main Street that are the heart of many of our communities or the small businesses that make a living there,” said Timothy Bishop, executive director of the EDA.

The students involved established a blog about the project and a Facebook group page that has attracted nearly 200 fans from across the country in the first two days. It can be accessed for more information at www.ellensburgmainstreet2010.blogspot.com.