By Matt Mackinder
Clarkston News Editor

CLARKSTON —With the new year brings three new board members to Clarkston SCAMP, a local five-week summer day program developed and designed for children and young adults with special needs covering a wide variety of both emotional and physical diagnoses.
Emily Ford, Paige Mason and Andrea Rouland are the new board members, taking over for Andrew Wint and Kyle Kijorski, who resigned their positions on the board when they moved to Colorado in October. There was one vacant position on the board already that had never been filled.
Ford, Mason and Rouland, who will serve two-year terms, were nominated by current board members and applied for the position. They were screened by the nominating committee, voted in during SCAMP’s December meeting, and will join the organization officially at the first board meeting of the new year on Jan. 10.
Ford, who has resided in Clarkston since 1979, is a a licensed realtor and managing broker of the real estate brokerage that she co-owns, Morgan, Milzow & Ford Realtors.
“I’ve always had the highest opinion of SCAMP’s mission and those involved with the organization,” Ford said. “Like many young people, I had to volunteer/do service hours growing up and SCAMP was one of my first volunteer opportunities. I’ve always made it a point to attend SCAMP events and donate monetarily whenever possible. However, I now feel compelled to be involved behind the scenes and with planning events, fundraising, etcetera. I’m most interested in contributing my time to local causes and SCAMP embodies so much of the greatness in our community that I’d like to further.”
Ford also mentioned that a personal goal for her tenure on the board is “to be able to offer my time, connections and talents to further SCAMP’s cause.”
“Clearly, the board’s members are very qualified in these areas and more,” said Ford. “I’ve served on other boards and I’d like to offer all that I can bring to the table to further SCAMP’s successes. I’m very excited for our first board meeting and to be able to meet and collaborate with the other board members.”
Mason lives in Fenton with her husband Damian Kudej and previously lived in Clarkston from 2014-17. She works for Merrill Lynch as the Mid West Division performance manager supporting new financial advisor development.
“We spend our time away from work either traveling or spending time outdoors enjoying all that Michigan has to offer,” said Mason, who said she first heard about SCAMP through friends she met with the Clarkston Wolfpack running group. “As I learned more, I found that SCAMP had impact on nearly all of my friends in one way or another. They either knew a SCAMPer and their family, supported as a volunteer, worked in the Clarkston School District, or have supported the organization though one of the local fundraising events. I was inspired by the reach that SCAMP has had within our local community. I joined the SCAMP board to ensure that this organization continues to provide an incredible experience to SCAMPers while also inspiring other members of our community to get involved and engage.
“My primary goal is to ensure that the camp remains accessible to any families who would benefit from SCAMP regardless of their financial situation.”
Rouland has lived in Clarkston for seven and a half years with her husband Jeff and children Veronica and August. She works for Farm Bureau Insurance of Michigan as a managing partner for the Southeast Region.
“Ever since I was a tween, I have found ways on my own to give back to my community and become a part of groups that are bigger than myself to run with them and make an impact,” Rouland said. “My dear friend is on the SCAMP board and is always sharing about her involvement and what SCAMP does for the kids not only in our community but in our county. One of the reasons I joined my day job is because their social mission is to end childhood hunger in the state of Michigan which made me think, ‘What is my personal social mission?’ I love the fact that SCAMP provides equal opportunity to children with bigger needs and handicaps to experience summer camps just as other children. Anything that has to do with children tugs on my heart strings and it is a good feeling to give back especially for those that don’t have a voice.
“My personal goal is to get to know more people in the community and find new creative ways to expand the SCAMP outreach. I am excited to be a part of something that is bigger than myself and grateful for the opportunity.”
SCAMP camp dates for the summer of 2024 are to be announced, but the camp typically runs from the end of June to the end of July.
For more information or to donate, visit clarkstonscamp.org.

PHOTO: From left, Emily Ford, Paige Mason, Andrea Rouland.