Two Shooting Stars Spotted in Houston!

The 2016 Elks National Convention in Houston was out of this world—and the Elks Hoop Shoot was proud to be a part of it. A host of Hoop Shoot volunteers worked tirelessly to make the Hoop Shoot booth a hot spot in the George R. Brown Convention Center.

With the basketball hoop and bleachers set up, you could hear cheers, swishes and the “clank” of the basketball bouncing off of the rim from the moment you walked into the Exhibit Hall. Thousands of people flocked to see what all of the commotion was about and found themselves stepping up to the line. Taking a shot allowed Convention-goers to walk a mile in a National Finalist’s basketball shoes. Many learned the hard way that the Hoop Shoot isn’t as easy as it looks and gained a new appreciation of the talent of the 72 National Finalists.

Although the Hoop Shoot volunteers are known for playing hard, they also work hard to engage everyone that stopped by. Regional Directors sought out Elks from their region and talked to them about local Lodge Contests. People left the booth with more than just a pin or a mini basketball. They left with information needed to run a successful Hoop Shoot, and with the contact information for the direct support they could receive.

Those not interested in shooting a free throw had plenty of things to check out at the Hoop Shoot booth. They had the opportunity to look through the new Hoop Shoot National Finals website (elkshoopshoot.org) and try to find past National Finalists from their area. The 2016 Hoop Shoot National Finalist trading cards were on site for all to see and the 2016 Getty Powell Award Winners life-size cardboard cutouts were a crowd favorite to take pictures with! If the cutouts didn’t cut it, all they had to do was come back for the real thing! Reagan Ponzer and Camden Cowgill spent Sunday morning at the booth. They signed autographs, gave shooting tips and took pictures with fans, including then Grand Exalted Ruler Ron Hicks.

After Camden and Reagan spent the morning meeting their fans, they addressed delegates and guests at the Opening Ceremonies. Speaking in front of thousands is a lot of pressure for anyone, especially a child, but you don’t become a Getty Powell Award Winner if you can’t handle pressure. Reagan and Camden did an amazing job, thanking their families and the Elks for a whole year of support. They are members of the #ElksFamily now. Both received standing ovations and accepted their trophies for being Getty Powell Award Winners.

The Cowgill and Ponzer families were so grateful for the opportunity. They couldn’t walk anywhere in Houston without getting stopped to take a picture with a Hoop Shoot fan. Camden and Reagan deserved to feel like celebrities. They earned that right on the court. For more on our Getty Powell Award Winners, watch the two short films used to introduce them before their speeches.

Stay tuned—their speeches were filmed and will be released in the near future.

There was never a dull moment for the Hoop Shoot in Houston. If you were unable to attend the 2016 Elks National Convention or didn’t get to stop by the Hoop Shoot booth, please email hoopshoot@elks.org or call 773/755-4758 with any questions about the Hoop Shoot. See you in Reno!