Awards given at monthly Lions Club meeting
The Malvern Lions Club held its weekly meeting Tuesday at the Family Life Center at First Baptist Church. The meeting included an annual update from the Malvern High School JROTC and a couple of unexpected awards presented to local Lions Club members.
Col.(r) Patrick L. Daniel, Senior Army iinstructor for the Malvern High School JROTC, the Leopard Battalion, attended the meeting with the 2021-22 MHS JROTC Officers to give their annual update to the Lions Club, who the students work closely with throughout the year posting flags for the Holiday Flag program.
Col. Daniel introduced himself and spoke a little about the MHS JROTC before giving the floor to the student representatives of the program. “The Malvern High School JROTC program has a longstanding relationship with the Malvern Lions Club,” said Daniel before turning the floor over to the students who accompanied him to the meeting.
The students in attendance are the 2021-22 MHS JROTC Command and Staff Team, comprised of Veronika Jergenson (Battalion Commander), Ben Capes (Battalion Command Sergeant Major), Stephanie Rodriguez (Battalion Executive Officer), Jaelon Austin (S1), Jocelyn Parrish (S2), Aiden Jones (S3), Destiny Lester (S4), and Madison Vaden (S5).
First was C/LTC Veronika Jergenson, who is the current Battalion Commander. Jergenson is in overall charge of the Leopard Battalion. Her past positions include Assistant S-1 and S-1. Past and current teams Jergenson has been involved with include Marksmanship, Drill, Color Guard, JCLC, and JLAB. She plans to attend the University of Houston on a Senior ROTC Scholarship.
Jergenson told the attendees that the battalion’s mission is “to motivate young people to be better citizens.” She said they fulfill this mission by encouraging good grades, developing leadership qualities, strengthening character, providing incentive to live drug- and alcohol-free, improving physical fitness, showing respect for the military and flag, and serving the community.
Jergenson informed the attendees that the program has 12 graduating seniors, 10 of which are college-bound and three who plan to join the military after graduation. She also said the program has eight cadets signed up to attend the JCLS Summer Camp taking place June 6-10 at Camp Robinson.
Next up was C/MAJ Stephanie Rodriguez, the Battalion XO. Rodriguez’s past positions include Assistant S-5, S-5, and Platoon Leader. Her past and/ or current teams include Marksmanship and Drill. Rodriquez is the secomd in command and Chief of Staff. She plans to attend UALR and major in criminal justice.
Rodriguez said the $500 Ed Howard Memorial Scholarship was awarded to Logan Holmes this year, and the $500 James Leon Gray Scholarship was awarded to Veronika Jergenson. She also said that Veronika Jergenson was the student delegate at the 2021 Virtual Girl’s State.
Following Rodriguez was C/CPT Jaelon Austin. Austin is an S-1 (Battalion Adjutant) whose previously served as Assistant S-1. His role is to process awards and ensure all cadets who met promotion and award requirements receive the proper recognition.
Austin’s past and/or current teams include Drill, Color Guard, JCLC, and JLAB. He said he plans to attend Henderson State University and major in pre-medicine, with the ultimate goal of becoming a travel nurse.
Following Austin was C/ MAJ Aiden Jones, S-3 (Battalion Operations Officer). Jones’ current duties include being in charge of operations and training, monitoring execution, producing weekly training schedules, and recording the results of training and operations in JUMS. Jones previously served as Squad Leader. He plans to attend Arkansas State University Three Rivers and join the electrical apprenticeship program.
Jones shared that JROTC has been involved in numerous community-focused events like Adopt a Highway, HSC Fair Rodeo support, Salvation Army bell ringing, performing the Honor Guard at Homecoming, being in charge of the school flag daily, being escorts for the district-wide assembly and homecoming pep rally, and working with the Lions Club placing flags around town on patriotic holidays.
Jones said upcoming events include another highway cleanup event, the End of Year Awards ceremony, American Legion Marksmanship competition, Baccalaureate Service Color Guard, Malvern JROTC Platoon Competition, MHS Graduation, WIS Flag education, a Senior Picnic, and JCLC (Summer Camp).
Next to take the floor was C/CSM Ben Capes, the Battalion Command Sergeant Major. Capes’ role includes the responsibility to motivate and support all enlisted cadets and encourage full effort towards all special teams.
Capes previously served at Battalion B Company 1st Sergeant. His past and/or current teams include Drill, Color Guard, Football Usher, Marksmanship, and Raider. Capes plans to attend Henderson State University and pursue a Bachelor’s of Science in Nursing.
Capes presented basic information about the program’s extracurricular activities, which include Drill Team, Color Guard, Rifle Team, Raider Challenge/ Land Navigation Team, and Flag Detail.
C/2LT Jocelyn Parrish is the Battalion S-2. Parrish previously held the position of Assistant S-2. She serves as a Security Officer responsible for ensuring all sensitive and expensive equipment is inventoried and secured properly.
C/CPT Destiny Lester is the S-4 (Battalion Supply Officer). Her role is to ensure all logistical requirements are met. Lester previously served at Assistant S-2. Her past and/or current teams include Color Guard and Platoon Competition. She plans to attend a four-year college and pursue a major in nursing and a minor in biochemical engineering.
C/CPT Madison Vaden rounded out the group of JROTC students who presented information. Vaden is currently an S-5 (Battalion Public Affairs Officer). Her role is to ensure publicity of all cadet achievements by publishing cadet challenge results in the quarterly JROTC newsletter, on Facebook, and on the Battalion website. She plans to attend the University of Arkansas Fayetteville and major in general animal science.
After the JROTC update, Lions Club Arkansas District “L” Gov. Rene Roberts surprised the audience by presenting two Malvern Lions Club members with awards. Lions Club Tamer Danny Riggan was presented with the Lions International Foundation Melvin Jones Fellowship. The esteemed honor is given, as stated on the plaque presented to Riggan, “for dedicated humanitarian services.” The award is the highest honor bestowed on exceptional Lions Club members worldwide.
“That is the highest form of recognition and embodies humanitarian ideas consistent with the nature and purpose of Lionism,” according to a statement about Riggan’s long and selfless service to the organization.
Riggan joined the Malvern Lions Club in Nov. 2005 and served as president for the local branch in 2009-10. He was Membership Chair 2008-09 and has been the Lion Tamer for over 10 years. Riggan is the flag coordinator and program coordinator and is in charge of providing food for the weekly meetings.
“Y’all have a busy, active club, and I’m highly impressed and so glad to be here,” Roberts stated before presenting Holly Carr with a medallion for completing 15 years of service as a member of the Lions Club.
Riggan’s prestigious award is named for the founder of Lions Club International. Melvin Jones was born in 1879 and became a salesman in Chicago in the early 1900s. Jones was one of a group of successful local businessman who would regularly meet to eat lunch and network, and it was through these interactions that Jones gained a greater vision and purpose for these meetings.
According to the Lions Club International website, “Something about the club’s business-only focus didn’t square with Jones’ different, larger vision. ‘What if these men who are successful because of their drive, intelligence and ambition, were to put their talents to work improving their communities?’ Jones asked. He saw a new kind of club with the desire to help others.
“As Business Club secretary, Jones, with help from his wife—the championship golfer Rose Amanda Freeman—wrote scores of letters to clubs nationwide inviting them to take up his idea for a service-centered organization. Businessmen interested in membership convened in Chicago, Illinois, and on June 7, 1917, Lions Clubs International was born,” the website states.
Shauna Schuda, Senior Media Relations Specialist/marketing Division for Lions Club International, released the following statement about the Lions Club and the Melvin Jones Fellowship:
“Founded in 1973, the Melvin Jones Fellowship (MJF) is presented to those who donate US$1,000 to the Lions Clubs international Foundation (LCIF) or to people for whom a donation was made by others for their tremendous contribution to humanity and to the legacy of Lions International founder, Melvin Jones.
Contributions for the MJF can be made by individuals (including non-lions), clubs or districts. Melvin Jones Fellows receive a special lapel pin, a plaque and a congratulatory letter. Melvin Jones Fellows will also be invited to a special celebration at the 104th Lions Clubs International Convention in Montreal this June to commemorate their commitment to humanitarian service.
There are more than 440,000 MJF recipients worldwide. LCIF is the charitable arm of Lions Clubs International. Established in 1968, LCIF provides grant funding to support the compassionate works of Lions, empowering their service and addressing the needs of their communities both locally and globally. Readers interested in supporting their mission of service are invited to donate to LCIF by visiting lionsclubs.org/donate.”