Fish Camp

 

In February of 2007, I was in front of my Century Scholar Learning Community class in Harrington classroom building briefing them on packing requirements and travel preparation for the trip to Madrid they would be taking on Spring Break. The door opened and a small stuffed leopard with a green bandana flew through the doorway. That was the way that I met my Fish Camp Co-Chairs Shannon and Trevor and learned that I had been selected as a Fish Camp Namesake.

 

Being a Fish Camp namesake was a bucket-list item for me. Being named a Fish Camp namesake in the same semester that my first child was born and that I was promoted to Assistant Director was almost overwhelming. I'm so incredibly grateful to my friends and family for allowing me to take full advantage of that experience, though, since Fish Camp holds such a special place in my heart.

 

I chose to attend Texas A&M not because I connected to the consuming school spirit I felt here. My only previous knowledge of Texas A&M came from the t-shirt worn by the older brother of my friend and football teammate Vince Vasquez and from the brief stories told by a teacher who played soccer here. Before moving up to the varsity football squad, I was part of a group of wildly enthusiastic fans that occupied "the pit" at home football games, yelled loudly, and played kazoos; we dubbed ourselves the "SGP All-Star Kazoo Band" and had cards printed to prove it.

 

Fish Camp reinforced my decision to attend Texas A&M, and I participated as loudly as possible the whole time I was there as a freshman. My wife, who I've known since my freshman year at Texas A&M, was in my camp (Session E(?) Aqua - Camp Knight PJ Patriots) but did not speak to me until our bus ride back to campus since she thought I was too obnoxious the rest of the time.

 

I applied to be a Fish Camp counselor my sophomore year and was made an alternate. When Gary Kipe, who had been my wife's DG leader, was elected as a Yell Leader, I became a counselor and got the chance to go back to Lakeview a second time. Making a third trip back seemed like the pinnacle of a rewarding career, yet I found myself back just eleven years later.

 

Words fail to do justice to how proud I am of the counselors of Camp Kotinek. I've had the opportunity to stay in contact with many of them, writing letters of recommendation and attending weddings, and seeing them develop into young professionals. I've even had the opportunity to watch several of my freshmen grow and develop into amazing leaders in their own right. I am very proud of the legacy of Camp Kotinek.

 

Namesake Speech

 

Talk to 2008 Fish Camp Namesakes