At the Evergreen Chamber of Commerce’s 2021 Holiday Gathering — themed for the movie “A Christmas Story” — four award winners were recognized for their work in the community throughout the past year.

BJ Lupton, the owner of Snappy Sport Senter, won the Brent Hall Award. Anton Kaufer, advertising director for the Daily Inter Lake, was awarded the Volunteer of the Year Award. Joi Gratny, co-owner of GSS Electric, was given the President’s Award. And Jamie Lake from The Shipping Station was presented with the Energizer Bunny Award.

Although the awards all celebrate contributions to the Evergreen community, each award highlights a different kind of commitment, and they are all evaluated using unique criteria.

The Brent Hall Award was given for the fifth time this year “to honor a person whose life exemplifies a spirit of giving, community and business leadership, volunteerism, and advocacy for and support of others.” The award preserves the legacy of Brent Hall, a community member who was involved with construction, philanthropy and local sports for decades.

Lupton, this year’s Brent Hall Award winner, has owned Snappy’s since 1972. He currently works with his son Jon, the store’s junior owner and vice president.

Kaufer, the advertising director at the Inter Lake, this year’s Volunteer of the Year, is better known to some as The Grinch. Kaufer dressed up as the famous Dr. Seuss character for an Evergreen Chamber event this year, a testament to his spirit of generosity.

He was named the Volunteer of the Year for his “years of giving and supporting the Evergreen Chamber of Commerce,” according to the award description.

Connie McCubbins, executive director of the Chamber, said Kaufer won the award because he was a community member “who really gave this year.”

Unlike Kaufer’s eye-catching performance as the Grinch, the President’s Award is given annually to someone who “works behind the scenes,” McCubbins said.

This year, that person was Joi Gratny, co-owner of GSS Electric Inc. Gratny is also a Chamber Ambassador.

She was hand-picked for the award by Evergreen Chamber President Gary Mahugh.

The award is meant to recognize a person who “wears the color of the Chamber” and “promotes everything the Chamber does,” McCubbins said.

The fourth award this year went to Jamie Lake at The Shipping Station.

Lake earned the Energizer Bunny Award. The award honors “one Ambassador that embodies what being an Evergreen Chamber of Commerce Ambassador is about,” according to the award description.

The Energizer Bunny must fulfill multiple criteria, including an engaging personality, reliability, and a willingness to approach people so they feel welcome and comfortable. The Energizer Bunny projects a positive image for the Chamber and their company and encourages others to become Chamber members.

Lake has worked at The Shipping Station for 5 years, including 3 as the manager.

"Jamie loves volunteering by giving her time, energy and enthusiasm by committing to enhance businesses in the community and carrying out the mission and purpose for the Evergreen Chamber of Commerce," said her supervisor, owner Duane Dierenfield.

Reporter Bret Anne Serbin may be reached at 406-758-4459 or bserbin@dailyinterlake.com.