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Fish Camps to Have Familiar Names

by Lauren Rouse

From and event that grew from taking a few students camping to one that now boasts more than 900 hundred counselors leading the freshman class through a four-day orientation, Fish Camp has become one of Texas A&M's most valued traditions. This year, three representatives from the College of Education and Human Development will become a part as this tradition as camp namesakes for Fish Camp 2007 - David Byrd, John Trott and Jay Woodward.

"Being recognized as a namesake is one of the highest honors that can be bestowed upon a Texas A&M staff or faculty member and it is nice to receive this type of positive, tangible, and direct feedback that your contributions to the university have been noticed and appreciated by the students that we serve," said Woodward, lecturer in the Department of Educational Psychology.  

Byrd commemorates the great work that the Fish Camp staff does in their selection of namesakes.

"I think the Fish Camp staff does a great job of selecting namesakes each year.  I never remember seeing a name where I didn't think the person was well-deserving of the recognition due to their ability to make student success a priority," said Byrd, director of Recruitment. "To have others believe that I deserve this recognition has been a true honor.  I work for a great college and am thankful for the opportunity to serve future students.  My recognition would not have been possible had it not been for the great team with whom I work."

Fish Camp, which began in 1954, breaks into six sessions with six camps. Each camp is named after an individual who has been nominated and chosen by students and has contributed to Texas A&M in a positive way. Through an orientation program held in Palestine, Texas, freshmen are given the opportunity to learn Aggie Traditions, ease their way into college life, develop leadership skills and create friendships.

Both Byrd and Woodward felt deeply honored to be nominated and chosen as a namesake.

"My initial reaction was of one of shock and awe.  I was surprised just prior to starting my lecture late on a Monday night for [my] class. My co-chairs burst through the door yelling and singing and presented me with red balloons (my camp color), a painted 'Camp Woodward' sign and cupcakes (with red icing, of course) for my entire class," Woodward said. "I probably had an ear-to-ear grin for the entire evening after they left as my spirit was lifted and mood elevated for the entire class. I couldn't wait to call all of my friends and family. It is a memory that I will cherish and will never forget.  But, I know that there are many more memories to come."
 
Byrd was surprised by the nomination as well.

"I was shocked and humbled when I was notified that I was a namesake. Seeing the list of former namesakes from across the university really made me appreciate the idea that people felt compelled to include me with such dedicated professionals," he said.

The namesake has responsibilities to the directors, counselors and the freshmen who make up Fish Camp and are highly encouraged to take a role in all of the planning that go into scheduling and coordinating all of the activities that will occur during the four days that the freshman are at camp. Camp namesakes can be faculty and staff at Texas A&M, as well as friends of Texas A&M - as in the case of Trott who serves as the college's advisory council chairperson. The chosen namesakes have an opportunity to have a profound impact on the leaders and the freshmen in their camps.

"Within the camp structure, the namesake is there to make sure that the freshman have a friendly faculty face to call upon if they have issues in adjusting to college life once they arrive on campus.  As large as this university is, sometimes this transition can be very daunting, so having a mini Aggie-network to lean on (before you even arrive in College Station) can provide a great comfort," Woodward said.

All namesakes are excited about the wisdom they can share with the Class of 2011.

"I think Fish Camp is a great way to introduce our newest members of the Aggie family to our great campus.  I hope to just enjoy the experience and take in all I can from my counselors and co-chairs. Their youthful excitement is contagious, and at this point, I'm just hoping I can keep up," Byrd said.

For Woodward, who never attended Fish Camp during his freshman year, being a namesake has given him a second chance at the experience.

"When I applied to and was selected to attend Texas A&M in the fall of 1993, I chose not to attend Fish Camp. I didn't know what it was and didn't know the value and impact that it could have on a student as they transitioned from high school to college.  I have gone my entire Aggie-life (13 years and counting as I hold a bachelor's, master's and Ph.D. from this university) regretting this decision," Woodward said. "So, as a namesake, I now get to make-up for my mistake (you don't get many do-overs in life) and get to revel in and enjoy the Fish Camp experience.  Towards this goal, I will bring my blood, sweat, and tears into Fish Camp this year."

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