Students at Camas High School (CHS) seized an opportunity to earn money while also giving back to the community as official scorekeepers for middle school and youth basketball games across the district.
For some students, scorekeeping started as a simple way to put experience on their résumés, but for senior Aedan Garling, it allows a balance of work and doing something he enjoys.
“I found it was a good way to make a little extra money while being very busy all the time,” Garling said. “It also felt like a good way to be involved with the community, especially since I already do sports medicine and play Camas sports.”
Students learned about this opportunity through the Camas staff or word of mouth.
“I found out about it from Lisa Schneider, [an academic support specialist], and an email went out and told me to talk to Ms. Parbon, and from there I got the job,” Garling said.
Their responsibilities include keeping track of how many points one team scores, individual player scores, timeouts, team and player fouls, as well as rosters.
Senior Kaitlin Zeamer and junior Stella Mathena also run the scoreboard exclusively at Skyridge Middle School (SMS), and both enjoy the teamwork involved.
“It’s really fun and something for us to do together, and it’s pretty easy,” Mathena said.
They also acknowledged the challenges that come with scorekeeping, such as coaches or spectators questioning the accuracy of the scores even when the game has been properly tracked.
“It’s kind of hard for us to mess it up because we go play by play. The refs tell us what to put in; it’s not even up to our interpretation,” Zeamer said.
Despite occasional stressful moments, the benefits greatly outweigh the frustrations. Scorekeepers get a behind-the-scenes look at how school sports function while benefiting their community.
Camas staff also emphasize the value of student involvement in the Camas community.
“It’s a résumé builder. It shows responsibility, communication skills, and the ability to work with coaches and referees,” Schneider said.“It’s a great way for students to dip their toe into the world, but in a place they already know. Plus, they get to make some coins.”
With growing interest and a rising demand for dependable scorekeepers, CHS students continue to step up. Their work ensures that basketball games across the district run smoothly, all while setting a good example of how CHS students act for the younger athletes.
