The McKinney Lions club recognized two senior students from McKinney North High School at its meeting on Wednesday February 17th,
Mason Grimes is the son of Gene and Andrea Grimes of McKinney. Mason describes himself as self-motivated, a leader, smart and a hard worker. He has served on the Superintendents Council and the Athlete Advisory Council at McKinney North High School. He is a basketball player and has been on the 365 Sports USA Basketball Team. Mason has served on the Leadership Council for two years and a active member of his church youth group.
Alyssa Beth Swank is the daughter of Ron and Laura Swank of McKinney. She has been a member of the National Honor Society and a member Academic All-District and Academic All-State Group. Alyssa is a member of the Health Occupational Students of America and has been 2008 state finalist and 2009 National Qualifier in Prepared Speaking for HOSA. She has lettered three years in volleyball and was captain of the volleyball team in 2009 and selected for the first team All-District team in 2008 and 2009. Alyssa is involved in church and community activities at St. Michael's Catholic Church, and she has coached numerous youth volleyball teams over the past several years. In addition, she was selected as team leader for the Raytheon Teen Leadership Simulation.
The McKinney Lions Club recognized two students from McKinney High School as January 2010 Students of the Month.
Mikey Kutschlee is the son of Eric and Sue Kutschlee of McKinney. Mikey is a senior at McKinney High School. He has been in the top 10 percent of his class each year and he is a AP Scholar. Mikey received the Freshman Leadership Award and is president of the Ultimate Frisby Club and a member of the Swing Dance Club. He has been involved in diving and placed 4th at the state meet in 2008. Mikey is a member of the Four Corners Community Church Youth Group and has over 100 hours of voluntering as a computer specialist aid.
Alexandra Somborn is the daughter of Chuck and LeAnn Somborn of Mckinney, Alexandra (Alex) has earned the Top 10% Academic Recognition Award and ranked among the top 10 for all four years of high school. She is active in the McKinney High School Band and is 1st Chair oboist, pianist for the jazz band, 3rd bass drum player for the Royal Pride Drumline. In addition, Alexandra is editor of the Mckinney High yearbook, a member of the National Honor Society and the Swing Dance Club. and was a member of the freshman girl's basketball team. She is a member of the First Baptist Church Youth Group and has participated in six mission trips. She has volunteered in the food pantry for five summers and plays the oboe in the church orchestra.
The McKinney Lions Club honored two students from Boyd High School as Students of the month for December 2009.
Cara Howley is the daughter of Mike and Christy Howley of McKinney. Cara is a member of the National Honor Society, the Peer Assistance Leadership Society, the All-Academic Team-Volleyball organization, and has received the Greencord Volunteer Hours award. In addition, Cara has received the Rotary Club Redcord Academic Excellent award. She is a senior captain in varsity volleyball and a district volleyball MVP. Cara has helped coach youth volleyball in the community, served as a student mentor for PALS elementary students, and worked with special needs teenagers at McKinney Boyd High School through the PALS program.
Cameron Doyle is the son of Bob and Carrie Doyle of McKinney. Cameron has received the Academic Excellent Award, and he is an AP Scholar with Honors, a Commended National Merit Scholar, and is a RYLA Scholarship Recipient with a RYLA Advisory Board Appointment and a member of the National Honor Society. Cameron has been a member of both the McKinney Boyd Football Team and Basketball Team. He has also been a part of the City of Allen Co-Ed Volleyball League. He has worked as a Children and Community Health Center Volunteer and as a McKinney Clubs Basketball Team Volunteer, and has a worked with the HOSA (Health Occupations Students of America) program.
On Wednesday November 18, 2009 the McKinney Lions Club honored three individuals as Students of the Month.
Tanner Newton is the son of Keith and Cindy Newton of McKinney and is a senior at McKinneyHigh School. He is ranked as #2 out of 450 in the senior class at McKinney High and is both a Commended National Merit Scholar and an AP Scholar with Distinction. Tanner is the president of the National Honor Society and was president of the junior class last year. He is a starting receiver for the McKinney High football team and started for the district champion baseball team. He has been an active member of Young Life and has volunteered at the McKinney Chamber of Commerce and the McKinney Make a Difference Day.
Lisa Hammann is the daughter of Mark and Cheryl Hammann of McKinney and is a senior at McKinneyNorthHigh School. She is a National Merit semi-finalist, an AP Scholar with Honors, and Psychology Student of the Month. In addition, she has been recognized by the Rotary Club for three consecutive years. Lisa has been active in the CCSO Explore Post 660 and was recognized as the Texas Explore of the Year. She is also involved in the History Club and had perfect attendance for the 2006-2007 school year. Lisa has a served as a volunteer bell ringer for the Salvation Army. (In Grady’s pictures Lisa is the taller of the two girls.)
Brianna Hightower is the daughter of Brian Hightower of McKinney and is a senior at McKinneyNorthHigh School. She is a National Merit Commended Scholar, an AP Scholar and has been recognized by the Rotary Club. Brianna is in the top four percent of her class. She has been a member of the Key Club for four years and is currently president. She is a member of the Blue Blazer Ambassadorial program, the National Honor Society, the History Club, and the Academic Decathlon. Brianna has also been involved in the YMCA, Trick-or-Treat for UNICEF, the canned food scavenger hunt for the Samaritan Inn, and has served as a Salvation bell ringer.
For Immediate Release October 14, 2009
On October 14, 2009 the McKinney Lions Club recognized two individuals as Students of the Month. Tanner Newton and Megan Robinson are from McKinney High School . Tanner was ill and unable to attend the meeting, but he will be recognized at the Lions Club meeting on November 18, 2009.
Megan Robinson is the daughter of Charles and Kim Robinson of McKinney. Megan is a senior at McKinney High School. She has received the 2006-2008 Rotary Club academic excellence award, she is a member of the District 4-1 All Academic Team, and a member of the National Honor Society. She is also the editor of the 2010 Lion Yearbook and active in the Clean Up the Environment organization. Megan has been a member of the varsity volleyball team, the victory volleyball club, and the Allen city league ultimate frisbe team. She has volunteered at the Baylor Surgery Center and attends the First Baptist Church and the Cross Point Baptist Church .
McKinney Lions Club is honored to salute Megan Robinson……..
For Immediate Release – October 15, 2009
The McKinney Lions Club recently partnered with Dr. Liz Brassine, Doctor of Audiology, to help a local student with a hearing problem. Seaver Bowen from McKinney North High School was suffering from a hearing disorder and had already been through unsuccessful surgery earlier. Seaver’s Dad was just back from serving in the middle east and had just discovered that their insurance didn’t cover hearing aids. The Local McKinney Lions club was contacted through Lion John Childers and quickly they partnered with Dr Brassine to cover the costs of testing, earmolds and batteries and other services as necessary. Through this partnership, Seaver is now hearing normally and doing well at McKinney North High School.
Dr Brassine and the Lions club will be looking at other opportunities to help hearing impaired students in the future. Lions President Danny Wolf, stated; “this fits right into our mission of serving the community and helping kids is really what we are all about. It should be a great partnership with Dr Brassine and her passion of helping the hearing impaired”.
If you know of a student that has hearing disabilities and needs financial assistance, please contact the McKinney Lions Club (972-542-0257) or Dr Brassine (972-838-1300.
For Immediate Release - September 30, 2009
MCKINNEY LIONS CLUB
RECOGNIZING TWO OUTSTANDING STUDENTS
On Wednesday September the 30th the McKinney Lions Club recognized two students from Boyd High School. Each month during the school year the McKinney Lions Club honors two outstanding students from McKinney high schools.
Jimmy Juno was recognized as a September Student of the Month. Jimmy is the son of James and Constance Juno of McKinney. Jimmy is a National AP Scholar and has numerous academic awards. He is very active in the Boyd High School Band and holds a 3rd degree Taekwondo Black Belt. In addition, he is highly involved with Catholic Church activities. Upon graduation Jimmy plans to attend Baylor University.
Kasey Givens was also recognized as a September Student of the Month. Kasey is the daughter of Don and Barbara Givens of McKinney. Kasey is a AP scholar with distinction and holds many other academic awards. She is president of the Environmental Activist Club and the Interact Club and a member of the National Honor Society and the National Art Honor Society. Kasey is active in varsity cheerleading and is currently considering several universities to attend after graduation.
Tammy Freeman and her leader dog Vince, visited the Lions Club this week and gave a chilling story of her blindness and how it occurred.Tammy began by telling everyone that she lost her optic nerve in a motorcycle accident several years ago.Naturally it was devastating, but through the help of her family and friends, she pushed herself to adapt.After her recovery, she was approached by someone that told her about a special leader dog school in Rochester, MI.It was mentioned that the organization was founded by area Lions Club members in 1939. The group became known as Leader Dogs for the Blind which provides dog guides to people who are blind and visually impaired to enhance their mobility, independence and quality of life. Each year, over 270 students attend their 26-day residential training program to be paired with a dog guide. This is a life-changing event that opens the doors to independence, safety and self-worth for many of their students.
Tammy was very excited and immediately begin to think how great it could be for her.Then, as if this wasn’t enough good news, she was told that the school and living quarters would all be FREE.All she had to do was show them how good she could walk with her cane and she would be accepted.Tammy had some struggles with the cane and in her words “I freaked out a lot because I couldn’t walk a straight line.I always veered off to one side.So I had to make some improvements before I could move forward with the school, and improve I did”.
She headed to school and at first it was very scary for her. She was not allowed to bring anyone with her since she would be staying in their quarters and needed to concentrate on working with the dog.She tells a funny story about her request for a dog. Tammy says…”I have a light colored carpet so I asked for a yellow lab.When they brought me my dog, all I could think of was what color is it.When I asked they said he was black and I couldn’t believe it.Oh my, the dark hair will show up bad”.But Tammy was thrilled and went on through the school, mastering everything she was taught.She also told another story that put things in proper perspective.“At one point I was told I had to walk two blocks with Vince and at the end of the block, I was to turn right and cross.When I got to the end I couldn’t get Vince to turn.No matter what I said or did, Vince was not going to move.Moments later, one of the trainers came up on a bike and asked what was wrong.I told him the story and he recognized my frustration.He asked me to keep calm, and then promptly told me the reason that Vince would not turn right. He then told me, had Vince turned right like I wanted, we would have walked straight into a light pole.Sure enough, once I had Vince back up some, he promptly turned right on command”.
Vince has been a life saver for her and she dearly loves him.He’s right by her side at all times.The two of them spend a lot of time with speaking engagements, even though Tammy continues to work on a regular basis. Tammy has also become a Lions Club member in the Ft Worth area and is the District Leader Dog Chair.
The McKinney Lions Club contributes to the Leader Dog Program and will continue to do so in the future.The McKinney club was organized in 1920 and continues to serve the community through a variety of projects.One of their most important projects is helping kids with eye exams and eye glasses.It was just this past March that the Lions helped assist with a mobile eye clinic, at OldSettlersCommunity Center, for the public.To know more about the Lions Club, go to www.mckinneynoonlions.org .The Lions club is currently taking applications for membership so they can do more work within the community.If you need more information regarding membership, you can contact Membership Chair Karin Dowdy at kdowdy@prodigy.netor President Danny Wolf at dwolf@cccsnct.org .McKinney Lions Club meets every Wednesday at noon at the El Dorado Country Club and visitors are welcome.
June 29, 2009
Samaritan Inn seeing the effects of the economic decline, currently housing 118.
McKinney Lions Club met Wednesday, June 24, where they presented a check of $1,200 to the Samaritan Inn. Executive Director of the Inn Lynne Sipiora thanked Lions for their donation and told club members of the impact the Inn has on those in need. She said the center currently has 118 residents ranging in age from 7 weeks old to 67 years old.
For Immediate Release – June 8, 2009
.SMILES SOARING HIGH WITH FLY DAY
McKinney Lions Club partners with Challenge Air for Handicapped Kids
Saturday was a very special day for over 250 handicapped kids in the McKinney area.Some 14 planes were provided by “Challenge Air for Kids and Friends” to take these special kids soaring over the city for a time they wont soon forget.Challenge Air, founded by Rick Amber (1944-1997) who himself lost both legs while crash landing his fighter jet on the aircraft carrier USS Hancock during the Vietnam war.
Lion Harvey McCarter headed the McKinney Lions effort to give these kids something to really remember.“It was so good to see all the excitement and smiles as they got off the planes, andyou knew at a glance that it was a great happening for them”.Cheer groups were awaiting them as they exited the plane, making it all the more exciting for the kids.This is an annual event that the Lions will continue to participate in.
In 1993, Amber purchased a Cessna 177B Cardinal airplane and Challenge Air was born.Many thousands of kids have now flown for the first time in the lives.Rick once said…”the human spirit prevails over any physical or mental obstacle.After a day with Challenge Air, no height seems unreachable….all it takes is desire and truly, the sky is the limit”.
The McKinney Lions Club provided lunch for all those attending including the parents, and also set up a display to let everyone know about the Texas Lions Camp, another great effort for handicapped kids.The Lions, just this weekend, took 7 campers to Kerrville for the week long camp, and there is no charge for transportation or any other expenses.It’s just what the Lions do………..
