The Lions of the University now reside with the rest of the pride.
Oct. 2 brought big changes to the University's Lions Club as they celebrated being officially chartered to the international organization.
Lions Club dignitaries from across Texas helped present the charter, banner, gavel and gong to the new group.
"This is very significant and memorable for us tonight," said Lions Club president, junior Marie Nisnisan.
Nisnisan's father, Jhoey Nisnisan, president of the Houston Royal Oak Lions Club, also participated in some of the night's inductions as he presented the club with its banner with the help of his daughter.
"I can't describe it. It's overwhelming," Nisnisan said of his daughter. "I'm very proud of her."
The guest speaker for the night was Trish Wilson, the development director at the Texas Lions Camp, which hosts a week-long camp for special needs children at no cost.
The underlying message of Wilson's speech, "Carpe Diem," Latin for seize the day, encouraged everyone to embrace the saying in everyday life.
"I hope and pray you seize the opportunity," Wilson said.
Lions Club International is the largest volunteer service organization worldwide, and the University is one of the few campuses in the nation with its own club.
The campus club, which consists of 37 students, has been serving the University as well as the surrounding Houston communities since being approved as a club on March 9.
"These guys are the life-blood of Lionism. They bring new life to the old, but they also bring longevity to the whole program," Wilson said.
Together the club has accumulated over 100 hours of community service within five months. With a focus on blindness prevention as well as diabetes awareness, some of the service projects they have participated in are campus-wide service days, YMCA and health fairs.
The event also served as a fund raising opportunity to help provide money for future service projects for the club.
"The next step is to fulfill the Lions motto to serve and make a difference on the University campus as well as in the community," said faculty adviser Dr. Saul Trevino, assistant professor in chemistry.
"Though we're not as strong in numbers as other clubs, we are strong in spirit," Nisnisan said.
For information regarding Lions Club meetings, contact Marie Nisnisan at nisnisanmm@hbu.edu.
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