SMA Leo Club Installs Members, Receives Charter

Several local Lions Club members, representatives of Lions District 2-S3, and a number of proud parents were all on hand Dec. 5 for the San Marcos Academy (SMA) Leo Club Installation and Charter Presentation.

The club was formed earlier in the year and officers were installed in October by Mike Jones, president of the San Marcos Lions Club, which sponsors the Leo Club. The officers are Ava Webb, president; Milen Rodriguez-Bravo, vice president; Ayo Adekunle, secretary; and Lacey Fields, treasurer.

Each Leo officer had a part in the Installation Ceremony at which Larkin Smith, Lions District Governor for District 2-S3, was the installing officer. Also present from District 2-S3 were Gary Fuchs, 1st Vice District Governor; Tony Doyle, 2nd Vice District Governor; and Gayle Collins, District Secretary/Treasurer.

“The Leo Club installation of officers and charter presentation is an historic event in the life of District 2-S3, Lions Clubs International,” Smith said. “On July 1, 2019, many in our Lions Club District had a dream. We wanted to have a Leo Club chartered at this school. Today, the dream will come true. You can point to any person in this room knowing that each person had a part in the planning and the fulfillment of this dream. I can assure you that others at the state level were excited to offer their expertise.”

Making the club particularly unique is that is includes a number of international students on its roster. In many foreign countries, an individual can only become a member of a Regular Lions Club if he or she is a past member of a Leo Club. Thus, Academy Leos can return to their home countries one day and be eligible for participation in a Lions Club.

Leo members installed during the ceremony were Ayomide Adekunle, Sofia Baer, Julia Blackstone, Nathaniel Blackstone, Patrick Blackstone, Terry Cai, Jacey Cano, Aidan Chambers, Mia Clay, Connie Clevenger, Bonnie Dai, Adachi Emelogu-Obioma, Nicolas Escamilla, Brady Fields, Lacey Fields, Abby Funderburk, Camille Garcia, Ella Gomez, Mason Groves, Mac Daniel Howard, Chimdi Ihediwa, Austin Lee, Hudson Lee, Christine Liu, Kayla Livingston, Mason Loep and Logan Lucas.

Also Tyger Martin, Jesse Osimetha, Delani Osunsedo, Chelsea Peralez, Victoria Polhemus, Madeline Purcell, Mengdie Qu, Sarah-Gracie Roberts, Cendra Rodriguez, Milen Rodriguez-Bravo, Evan Schawe, Layton Schawe, Amberly Schlanger, Summerlyn Schlanger, David Shui, Animaan Singh, Angelina Vazquez, Catarina Vazquez, Max Watson, Ava Webb, Huanmu (Lily) Xu, Zekai Yang, Ela Yigibalom, Gina Yigibalom, Noira Yoman, Haoyue (Elena) Zhang.

Following the installation of the members, Smith presented the charter to Leo President Ava Webb.

“This Charter is very important,” Smith said. “You are to keep it not only for historic purposes but to signify that you have chosen to belong to one of the greatest organizations in the world. It signifies that a group of young people came together and stated that they would serve the community where they lived and would unify in harmony for the good of all people.”

In the spring, the Leos will sponsor the annual Culture Fair at the Academy to showcase various countries represented at SMA. The students will also have the opportunity to participate in the Lion’s Club Texas Regional District Convention at SMA on May 1-2, 2020.

Leo stands for Leadership, Experience and Opportunity. There are over 7200 Leo Clubs serving communities in 150 countries around the world. Established in 1957 as an official activity of Lions Clubs International, Leo Clubs are designed to promote high moral standards, personal responsibility and the desire to extend a helping hand to those in need.

Advisers for the SMA club are Nancy Smith, Rhonda McNeil and Diane Groves, who are all members of the San Marcos Lions.