Camille Shakespear, a lifelong Escalante Moqui, was honored at the Mid-Utah Radio Sports Awards ceremony with the John Yardley Impact Award. In a video tribute to Camille, family and community members spoke of her dedication and love for Escalante High School students and community sports, saying, “She is fiercely loyal—she loves that red!”
She is an advocate, volunteer and driver of sports from bantam to high school. She has organized little league teams, sewn sports uniforms when teams couldn’t afford to buy them, been a line judge, run the game clock, and so much more.
She is at every home volleyball game and every basketball game and keeps the community up to date on schedules. When Escalante needed a track, Camille raised funds to build one. Her son Dallin said, “Most people do things to get things in return and I think my mother generally just does it for the betterment of other people.”
Camille not only supports the students on the court, but works in the school to help students keep caught up with their classes. When Escalante needed a new school, Camille went door to door explaining to people why residents should vote for a bond to build. “There would not be a high school on Highway 12 without Camille Shakespear,” said Leslie Venuti, Escalante resident and friend. Camille’s son Derrik summarized her spirit of loyalty, “Irrational commitment gets irrational results and she was always wildly committed.”
Camille is also the mother of 4 boys who were all involved in sports! Now she has two of them involved coaching high school sports. From pacing the floors during her own boys’ games, keeping the refs in check, and handing out encouraging messages to athletes before games, Camille embodies the spirit of sports: intensity, passion, and last but most definitely not least, dedication.
I remember as one of the games commenced it wasn’t just the refs she had to keep in check, she also had to get after the crowd. After chanting an anti-sportsmanship cheer, the students quickly got scolded and continued on cheering in a more positive manner.
During the last five years at the Escalante High School, Camille has been the glue to help hold them together. She has stepped up to teach multiple classes all while still looking over online and CE classes, and being a teacher’s aide.
Camille has pushed the students to work harder and furthermore enjoy the education process. Hope Peterson, EHS former Student Body President, said that Camille “always made sure I was okay. She kept me on track and always listened when I needed it the most.” Hope has now graduated from high school with her Associates degree! Camille has a huge heart, and the students of Escalante High School will be forever grateful for all of her many attributes that kept the school thriving.
And what motivates someone to do the things Camille Shakespear has done? She answered that in the awards presentation by saying, “I want to keep that community spirit. I want to keep that support even as all these children go out into the world so that we continue to support them.” Camille truly loves, lifts, and supports those around her. Thank you Camille!
– by McKynlee Cottam (17) Escalante
Feature image caption: Camille Shakespear truly deserved this award for her huge heart and outstanding support of Escalante High School. Courtesy Ed Shakespear.
McKynlee Cottam – Escalante
McKynlee Cottam is a junior writer, and sometimes editor, at The Byway. She is a senior at Escalante High School. This year she’s had the opportunity to be the school’s Student Body President and Miss Garfield’s Outstanding Teen. McKynlee loves to write about things that are going on in our county and world, as well as some fun out-of-hat pieces. She enjoys playing the violin, participating in basketball, and of course hanging out with her friends. The Byway has been a fun part of her life, and she hopes to keep contributing to it for some time!