LAKE MARTIN ESSENTIALS

A host of college students keeps the lake working all season long

STORY BY ERIN CHESNUTT

WWhile service labor positions remain unfilled across the country, college students are working hard at Lake Martin. Summer jobs are a necessity for most of them. Many students use their time away from school to earn much-needed funds for the coming year, and Lake Martin provides them the opportunity to enjoy the lake while earning money for school.

Southern Methodist University Senior, Payton

Kaufman, is from Indiana, but he has been able to live at his father’s lake house in The Villages for the last three summers. A pre-law student, he spends his summer as a server and bartender at Copper’s Grill at Stillwaters. “I have a scholarship, and my parents pay for my additional tuition, but I use the money I make in the summer to pay for my fraternity dues and other expenses,” explained Kaufman, who plans to use the bartending experience that he learned at Copper’s to pay for law school. “I will be looking for bartender jobs when

I return to Dallas since I will be paying for law school tuition on my own.” Fellow Copper’s bartender, Georgia Edwards, will graduate from Southern Union in August and then plans to attend the University of Alabama or Troy University to continue her degree with an on-line program. “Because of this job, I have been able to pay for my entire education in cash,” the Dadeville resident explained. Ranzaydria “Ran” Woodyard has been working at

Kowaliga Restaurant since 2015. The University of Alabama nursing student is entering her senior year but will have fond memories of her summers working at the lake.

“I got an application for Russell Lands in the counselors’ office my senior year of high school,” the Eclectic resident explained. “I started as a hostess; worked in the kitchen making sure the orders were correct; and then, when I turned 21, I became a server.”

Working at Kowaliga taught her that every job contributes to the success of the restaurant.

“I know the hospital environment will be different, but I’ve learned that every job and every worker is essential, and it’s so important to get along with everyone. Because we stay so busy, I make enough money to

cover my school expenses, and it’s never boring here. Plus, I get to enjoy a beautiful view while I work,” she added.

The dockworkers at The Ridge know they have to work hard all weekend, but they are finding that working at the lake has some unique advantages.

Trey Thompson and Caleb Walker see additional advantages to their summer jobs besides earning money for college.

Thompson grew up in Eclectic and joined the Army after high school. He has finished his service as an Army Ranger and will be heading to Auburn in the fall to use his GI bill.

“It’s a great job to work on your conversation skills. You can find out about a lot of interesting people while you work,” Thompson said.

Walker, an Auburn senior majoring in marketing added, “My uncle works here and helped me get the job. It’s a great way to make the money I need to cover my expenses during the school year, and learning how to make conversation with all kinds of people will help me in my marketing career.”

Brianna Jarvis is a senior music education major and one of the four drum majors in the Auburn University Marching Band. She started working at Chuck’s before her sophomore year after one of her friends encouraged her.

“It’s hard to find a job that will accommodate my busy band schedule, but the management here is very flexible; they all want us to put our personal interests and career goals first,” Jarvis said. “I need to save my summer earnings to pay rent during the school year and pay for what isn’t covered by my scholarship. The band requires a lot of time outside of class, so it would be difficult to find a job during the school year.”

Chuck’s Marina dock hands, Carson Granberry and Chris Kruggel, are students at Auburn University and are finding the experience invaluable. Granberry, a sophomore building science major, grew up in Auburn but spends the summer at his parents’ lake house in StillWaters.

“I always loved coming to Chuck’s growing up, so I really thought it would be fun to work here,” Granberry said. “It’s been a great way to learn social skills, and I need to save money to pay for my fraternity, water and power bills during the school year. My parents and a scholarship cover my tuition costs.”

Kruggel has been working on the dock for the past

Clockwise from top of facing page: Georgia Edwards; Caleb Walker; Brianna Jarvis; Ranzaydria Woodyard; Carson Granberry; Katie Rook; Aiden Chesnutt; and Trey Thompson

Clockwise from top: Payton Kaufman; Paige King; Karlee Cotton; and Chris Kruggel five years while earning his degree in professional flight. He already has earned his private pilot license and will earn his commercial license and graduate next semester. The Montgomery resident plans to join the Air Force after graduation and hopes to have a long military career. “Working here has allowed me to meet some great people. I have met several pilots that have shared their experiences, and I even fly with one of the customers in his personal plane,” Kruggel said. “The professional flight program is very expensive. It’s $17,000 for a flight instructor, plus I have to cover the cost to use the plane. It’s so important to work hard in the summer to help with the expenses.” Recent high school graduates Aiden Chesnutt, Katie Rook and Karlee Cotton decided working at the lake was a good way to spend the summer before heading off to college. Chesnutt, who lives in Atlanta, Georgia, will be a freshman at the University of Alabama in the fall. He’s spending the summer at his parents’ lake house while working for new home builder Chad Stearns in The Ridge. He is saving for his personal expenses during the school year. “It’s interesting to watch as the houses are built. I’ve learned to work really hard, assisting on the construction sites, and the importance of being flexible,” explained Chesnutt. “Probably the best part is, after a hot day, I can just go jump in the lake to cool off.” Rook and Cotton are on opposite ends of the lake, both at busy restaurants. Rook is working at The Landing in Parker Creek before beginning her first year at Southern Union to study accounting. “It’s my first year at The Landing,” the Wetumpka resident explained. “I’m learning that dealing with people requires a lot of patience. We stay very busy, and I enjoy the challenge and the responsibility.” She will be paying some of her personal expenses with her summer earnings at the lake when she begins school in the fall. Karlee Cotton is spending her third summer working at Chuck’s Pizza. She graduated from Reel Town High School last spring and has already moved into an apartment in Auburn with friends. She is working to pay for rent and saving for school fees when she begins school at Southern Union as a building science major.

“It’s a fun environment, but we get crazy busy at times, so you really learn to work under pressure,” Cotton explained.

All the students are glad they made the decision to work at the lake this summer. Whether they grew up in the area or are able to spend the summer at a lake home, they are able to enjoy the view of the lake while earning the money they will need during the school year. When these students head back to school to pursue degrees in the fall, they will enjoy answering the question, “What did you do this summer?”