2016 Archdeacon Frederick C Byrd Outstanding Staffers of the Year Awards

Congratulations to our amazing staff on a job well-done this summer. Each year, the staff has the responsibility of selecting two members - one male, one female - from among them who best represent what it is to be on Camp Gravatt staff. Some of the criteria considered include participates in the total camp life, sets a good example in word and deed, supports other staff, is a team player, puts the campers first always, is a positive Christian role model, and goes beyond the call of duty. This year's recipients of the Archdeacon Frederick C Byrd Outstanding Staffer of the Year Awards are Amanda White and Matthew Hogue.

Amanda is from Aiken and currently attends TriCounty Tech in Clemson, where she is majoring in graphic design. 2016 was her fifth year on staff. She has been a counselor, head female counselor, and technology director. This summer as technology director, she was responsible for all the amazing photos taken during camp (except for the ones in this article). About her work at Gravatt, her teammates said, "she gives the staff energy and pushes them to be their best" and "has contributed everything she has to camp."

Matthew is a junior majoring in biology at USC and is from Columbia. This summer was his third serving as a camp counselor. Matthew's teammates said of him, he is "a role model for staff and campers," and "his love for Gravatt is evident in every interaction he has at camp."

This year's awards were presented by Father Scotty Brock, the first recipient back in 1983. At the time, the award was called the Bishop and Archdeacon's Trophy for Outstanding Staffer of the Year, and was renamed for Father Byrd a few years ago to honor all he has given to camp over the years. Father Byrd also gave a few introductory words at the presentation, and several previous recipients attended.

We are incredibly thankful for the gifts of all our summer camp staff who work tirelessly to make Gravatt an amazing experience and example of God's love to our campers. And we are especially proud of these two remarkable young people for being recognized by their peers.

Watch the video of Amanda and Matthew receive their awards. 

Recipients of the Archdeacon Frederick C Byrd Award for
Outstanding Staffer of Year

Past recipients came to support our new Staffers of the Year. Left to right: Sarah Bowers, Darby Thompson, Bobby Jones, Etta Gantt, Winston Collins, Father Scotty Brock, Matthew Hogue, Amanda White, Scott McNeely, Father Fred Byrd, Thomas Coleman, Austin Ryan, Hughes McGlone, Simons McGlone

1983- Scotty Brock
1984- Bobby Jones
1985- Ashley Byrd
1986- Lisa King
1987- Tricia Hedgepath, Kathryn Dunbar
1988- Thomas Murray, Elizabeth Norman
1989- Scott MCullough, Anna Robbins
1990- John Reddic, Holly Rankin
1991- David Melnyk, Jennifer Freeman
1992- Keith McCullough, Christine Tibshrany
1993- Sean Rankin, Meg Higgins
1994- Drew Bunting, Anna Callaway
1995- Pollye Bostick, Larry Tankersley
1996- Rich Higgins, Kate Burns
1997- Patrice Bostick, David Moody
1998- Kate Rankin, Adam Dougherty
1999- Lauren Tupper, Michael Gellatly
2000- Heath Stewart, Meredith McClain
2001- Rob Alexander, Lora Lee
2002- Helen Bailey, Peter Mukwevho
2003- Lauren Saint Scott, Thomas Coleman
2004- Jessa Westmoreland, Scott McNeely
2005- Hillary Higgins, Pierre Sanders
2006- Gray Robbins, Glennie Woodrum
2007- Jason Coleman, Ashley Sprott
2008- Hallie Carde, David Roth
2009- Jake Chesser, Charlotte Gantt
2010- Hughes McGlone, Langley Altman
2011- Meredith Cook, Marshall McArthur
2012- Stefanie Wilson, Simons McGlone
2013- Darby Thompson, Francis Anderson
2014- Sarah Bowers, Austin Ryan
2015- Etta Gantt, Winston Collins
2016- Amanda White, Matthew Hogue