2019 Permanent Staff

Home 2019 Permanent Staff

Jacob LeMeunier

As Head Counselor, I want to give our campers the most positive and transformative experience in their lives. I want to bring those who come to Camp Hardtner closer to Christ while also creating an environment that is conducive to acceptance, understanding, unconditionality, and fun.

I was born and raised in Lafayette, LA and have been an active member at St. Barnabas Episcopal Church for as long as I can remember. When I’m not at Camp Hardtner, you will find me working for the Ragin’ Cajuns Men’s Basketball team, hanging out with my friends, serving on the Student Government Association, or playing sports.

Ivania Vallejo

I was born in Tegucigalpa, Honduras and moved to Monroe, Louisiana at the age of 9. I have been attending Camp Hardtner ever since. I am a current member of the Spanish Ministry La Esperanza De Familias Unidas and St. Alban’s Episcopal Church in Monroe. As a graduate of ULM with a degree in Communication Advocacy I plan to get my Masters in Communications with a concentration in P.R. My dream job would be to work with non-profit organizations to help others.

One of the main reasons I love Camp Hardtner is because I am able to meet and become friends with people I might not otherwise meet. Camp friendships are forever and some of the best I’ve ever experienced. I can’t wait to make more friends this summer! See you all there.

Ivania Vallejo - 2019 Permanent Staff Member

Tyler Ferris

I was born and raised in St. Francisville where I attended Grace Episcopal Church and first heard about Camp Hardtner. Camp Hardtner has helped me become the person I am today. Many of my closest friendships are from my time spent at Camp, and I know that they will last a lifetime. I am currently a freshman at Stephen F. Austin State University in Nacogdoches, Texas and am majoring in music with a concentration in audio technology.

I hope that this summer I may be able to spread the love of music to more people. One day I hope to become a sound engineer and help musicians build a career and create amazing music. I look forward to seeing lots of new and familiar faces this summer and passing on the love of Camp Hardtner!

Sarah Whisnant

Hello! I grew up in Baton Rouge, and am now a freshman at LSU studying fashion merchandising. Moving to a big city and being a buyer for a fashion line are my future plans, but for now, I’m ecstatic to live in the woods of Pollock as a member of the 2019 Permanent Staff!

Attending Camp Hardtner has had a profound impact on me in every aspect. The Camp community is like no other and I’m so blessed that I get to be a part of it. I can’t wait to meet campers and help them grow closer to God, themselves, and one another.

Sarah Whisnant - 2019 Permanent Staff Member

Noah Morris

I am so excited to share the excitement and happiness that I experienced when I started coming to Camp 12 years ago. A freshman psychology major at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette, I hope to become a psychiatrist in the future. Right now, however, I am going to be a counselor at the camp that has brought me a whole new family unlike any other, and memories that cannot be topped.

I would not be who I am without Camp, and I am blessed to share that same feeling with each and every camper. See you all at Camp Hardtner this summer!

Joanitah Nakiggwe

My hometown is Shreveport, Louisiana but I currently live and go to school at Tulane University in New Orleans. At Tulane, I am studying International Development, Sociology, and Psychology. One day I will travel and work internationally, helping people with mental illnesses, and learning about different cultures and lifestyles.

I am super excited about this summer and I love giving back to Camp! The atmosphere of acceptance, warmness, and love is always strong and makes me feel so much closer to the people around me. I can’t wait to see a bunch of new faces and create some awesome new memories. Hardtner is home and I can’t wait to share it with you. See you at Camp!

Joanitah Nakiggwe - 2019 Permanent Staff Member

Jason Fisher

After 11 summers of being a camper, I am ecstatic to say that I will be on the 2019 Permanent Staff. I am currently enrolled in the University of Louisiana at Lafayette and pursuing a degree in psychology in hopes to one day become a counseling psychologist. I am so excited to be giving all of you an experience unlike any other–one that is full of love, excitement, and an opportunity to grow in your faith. I look forward to meeting all of the campers and having an action-packed summer!

Grace Pierson

I am from Covington, Louisiana, and I am at LSU studying biological engineering. I’m thinking about going to medical school in the future. My favorite part about Camp Hardtner is definitely the super fun games we play and the amazing friendships I have been able to make while also growing so much closer to God. I am so excited to be a counselor at one of my favorite places this summer and I can’t wait to meet all of the amazing campers!

Jackson Ryder

Hey guys! I grew up in Monroe and am finishing up my freshman year as a Finance major at LSU. Geaux Tigers! I’m not certain where my future is taking me, but I want to have a career working in the music industry one day. I was a camper for many years, and am super excited to be returning this year as a member of the Permanent Staff! The greatest thing about Hardtner is its ability to create friendships that last lifetimes. The connection between God and the camp is incredible, and I can’t wait to see all of the friendships that are created this summer!

Grace Marks

I am from Opelousas, Louisiana and I attend the University of New Orleans as a theater major. There are many goals that I want to pursue with my major, but the one I look forward to the most is one day using my major to work with kids. I hope to either teach or open my own business for youth in the arts.

What I love about Camp are the true friendships made and getting that deeper connection with Jesus. I am very passionate about Camp Hardtner and have been since I attended First Camp in 2007. This will be my 2nd summer on Permanent Staff and I look forward to giving the campers a rockin’ summer and to just have a great time doing it!

Grace Marks - 2019 Permanent Staff Member

Garrett Cook

I am a business administration major at Northwestern State University, and plan to apply to law school when I graduate. I’ve wanted to be a counselor since I started attending camp 8 years ago and I’m super excited to see what this summer has in store.

Emily Knight

Hey hey hey! I’m from Baton Rouge, LA, but now I go to school at Fordham University in New York City. Usually, I can be found at rehearsal for my a cappella group, the Fordham b-Sides, eating way too much Italian food, or exploring Manhattan with my friends!

I’m majoring in journalism with a double minor in Spanish and music, and it’s my goal to one day work here in NYC for a major news outlet like the New York Times or NBC. Camp Hardtner holds a special place in my heart because it’s where my parents met and I’ve been coming since I was seven. My favorite thing about it is the lifelong friends I’ve met, and I can’t wait to help give that same experience to all of this summer’s campers!

Emily Knight - 2019 Permanent Staff Member

David Kent

I study psychology at Baton Rouge Community College. I first started going to Camp Hardtner in 2010 and have been going ever since. Personally, camp has been a life changing experience and I am so excited to be able to pass on the camp experience to others!

Emily Grace Loe

My name is Emily Grace, but at Camp people tend to call me “Egg.” It’s a nickname I got when I was a camper and it just stuck! I’m from Baton Rouge, Louisiana, but I’m currently at LSU majoring in psychology and minoring in theater. After I obtain my undergraduate degree, I plan on going to grad school and working on building a career in social psychology.

I always loved how warm and welcoming Camp is, and I cannot wait to continue to help foster that as a counselor this summer. I’m looking forward to getting a little sweaty, a good bit of sun, and meeting a lot of happy campers.

Emily Grace Loe - 2019 Permanent Staff Member

Caleb Kent

This will be my ninth year at Camp and second year on Permanent Staff. I owe nearly all of my personal and social growth to my days at Hardtner and I am so excited to serve its ministry as a returning counselor this summer. With the experience I gained last year I can help our staff plan legendary games, profound services, and life-changing weeks for the campers.

In the “real world” I am studying at LSU to be a public relations specialist. I feel I have a genuine, optimistic personality, as well as a talent for writing, that helps me find opportunity out of adversity. For now, I scoop ice cream at my little neighborhood ice cream shop in Brusly, but most of the time I’m thinking about the next great camp game. The countdown is set on my phone, my black socks are LAUNDERED, and I’m ready to start the summer!

Elizabeth Bueche

I am a mass communication major at LSU, originally from Plaquemine, Louisiana. I hope to one day attend law school because I have always been interested in social justice issues and civil rights. I have gone to Camp Hardtner since First Camp, and I can’t wait to finally be a counselor!

My favorite part about Camp is growing closer to God every single day and making so many awesome memories with the best people on earth. I am looking forward to meeting all of the wonderful campers and helping them grow closer with one another and with God. I can’t wait for an entire summer full of fun, faith, and friendships that last a lifetime.

Elizabeth Bueche - 2019 Permanent Staff Member

Cade Storozyszyn

I am from Lake Charles, Louisiana. When I’m not being a counselor at Camp Hardtner, you can find me waiting tables at your favorite Chili’s restaurant. This coming school year, I will be attending LSU where I hope to incorporate my love of the outdoors in a forestry major and later on a full career.

Camp Hardtner has given me so many great friends and memories. This summer I can’t wait to play games and give the campers an even better experience than I had.

Countess Authement

I’m from a town down in South West Louisiana by the name of Sulphur. I currently live in Monroe, Louisiana where I attend the University of Louisiana Monroe. I am pursuing a bachelor’s degree in psychology with a plan to go to grad school for Clinical Psychology. My dream for the future is to do therapy for people in the special needs community.

I love the idea of camp as a whole, different parts of camp affect me in different positive ways. I think the thing I love the most about camp is the opportunity to worship with people from all walks of life in so many different ways. This summer I look forward to helping people build relationships with Christ and each other while working to do the same for myself.

Countess Authement - 2019 Permanent Staff Member

Jordan Stoll

I hail from Bossier City, where I attended St. George’s Episcopal church for the entirety of my life. I currently live in Ruston where I attend Louisiana Tech University, with plans to major in Communications and hopes to go into the priesthood. I hope to instill the love of God and all of His creation in the generations to come, starting with the tight-knit family of Camp Hardtner. In my free time I enjoy playing video games and ultimate frisbee, spending time with my friends and fraternity brothers, and attending football and baseball games.

Camp Hardtner is where I found not only my passion for God, but my best friends, my roommates, and my confidence to make new friends. Camp Hardtner is a magical and profound place and I look forward to catching up with all the campers I met last year and making lifelong friendships with every camper, new and old.

Devin Herbert

I’m from Ruston, Louisiana where I attend Louisiana Tech University and am studying Animal Science with a concentration in Pre-Veterinary Medicine. In doing so I hope to one day become a veterinarian and open up my own small animal practice. When I am not in the classroom or at work, I enjoy participating in multiple club organizations and hanging out with friends and family (and my dog Harley). I have attended Camp Hardtner as a camper since 3rd grade and am thrilled to be returning this summer as a counselor.

What I love most about camp is the lifelong friendships you make and the ability to build an even stronger relationship with the Lord with people who have a similar goal. I’m looking most forward to welcoming new and returning campers to Camp Hardtner and sharing the Camp Hardtner love and spirit with everyone. I am so excited for this summer and cannot wait to see everyone there.

Devin Hebert - 2020 Permanent Staff Member

Jack Guidroz

I am from Mandeville, Louisiana. I have been coming to Camp Hardtner since First Camp of 2007. I am now studying mechanical engineering at the Colorado School of Mines and I hope to one day work in the space industry. I can’t wait to meet all of the campers this summer as we worship and play games in the beautiful Kisatchie forest!

Caroline Cochran

I started going to Camp Hardtner the summer before I entered high school and they haven’t been able to shake me off since! As a camper, I made lifelong friends and as a counselor I can’t wait to see campers make those same lifelong connections. I split my time between St. Francisville and Baton Rouge where I attend Louisiana State University. I discovered my love of robotics in high school and this discovery lead me to LSU’s mechanical engineering program. I am also pursuing minors in both robotics and entrepreneurship so that one day I can to start my own business that promotes and shares the love of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics to every level of education.

I look forward to my summers at Camp Hardtner because I feel my closest to God when I’m surrounded by the campers and sitting in the grass looking at the nature that surrounds me. However, what I love the most about Camp Hardtner is how it is a safe space to be your true self.

Caroline Cochran - 2019 Permanent Staff Member

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Address: 2393 Camp Hardtner Road, Pollock, LA 71467 | Phone: 318-765-3794