Katherine has been involved with JACF since 1992 and has worked tirelessly to help 29 children attend camp for an amazing 1,638 days! The youth she sponsored went to various camps for multiple summers, some becoming Counselors in Leadership Training (CILT), junior counselors and eventually counselors.
Katie grew up in St. Louis, MO and attended college at DePauw University in Greencastle, Indiana, graduating with a degree in education and counseling. In the late 50’s, she became assistant director in Chipeta at Cheley Colorado Camps, then assistant director in Senior Chipeta, and finally director of Senior Chipeta.
After receiving her Masters from Columbia University in 1961, she became the assistant dean of students at Cornell. She was married to Michael, a retired foreign service officer, and they eventually settled in West Cornwall, Connecticut.
Always interested in youth and education, Katie was a trustee of the John Austin Cheley Foundation from 1995-2003, then served as a member of the Campership Committee many years after that. She sponsored her first camper in 1993 and has continued each year since. She also has served on several local and regional boards of education; has served as secretary for 34 years for the Housatonic Alumni FFA and is still involved with the oldest American Field Service chapter in the country.
Katie is justifiably proud of all her sponsored campers, but is especially fond of her very first one, Rebecca Echols, whom she remains in contact with. Rebecca continued working year-round at Cheley Camps for several years in various capacities, then went on to earn her nursing degree, and moved to Alaska. She is currently an ER nurse in Albuquerque, New Mexico.
Congratulations and heartfelt thanks are heartily bestowed on Katherine Gannett, our Volunteer of the Year!
