Two GGC freshmen, Jerhvon Pearman and Marcelo Clavarino, were motivated to establish the club based on personal experiences and future goals.
Pearman, who serves as the club’s first president, grew up in Americus, Ga., and was inspired by state’s most famous Lion, Former President Jimmy Carter, to become involved in Lions.
Pearman met Carter as a child and has followed his career with great interest. Pearman has traveled to Japan twice as part of Carter’s peace programs. He hopes to return to Japan on behalf of the Lions Club and serve individuals who have been impacted by the effects of radiation in the aftermath of the 2011 tsunami-triggered Fukushima Daiichi nuclear disaster.
Originally from Peru, Clavarino is the club’s vice president and is interested in the service aspects of Lions Clubs that focus efforts on “helping improve the lives of individuals in third world counties.” He would like to return to Peru in order to do work as a member of the Lions Club.
“I’m very proud of these students and their leadership,” said GGC Campus Lions Club Advisor Jim Fatzinger.
“Our goal is to become the number one organization at GGC, not only in numbers, but in service to the local community and beyond.” said Pearman.
Pearman and Clavarino were very impressed when they recently spent time at the Lions Club History Museum in Chamblee, Ga. Also at that location is a low-cost clinic and laboratory where donated eyewear and hearing aids are refurbished.
“We toured the museum and learned more about the projects that Lions Clubs support as well as ways we can serve. There are many volunteer opportunities for our club at this location and others in the state and beyond,” said Clavarino.
“This is a dawn of a new day,” according to Pete Stamsen, past president of the Lawrenceville Lions Club. He and fellow Lions Club member Grace Clower will serve as the club mentors.
“These young Lions will one day be future leaders, not just in their professional careers, but in their communities as well. I look forward to working with them and watching them grow as Lions,” said Stamsen.
“When GGC first opened, we tried to get a club started on campus and were unsuccessful. We didn’t give up hope and our efforts have finally paid off. It is so special to finally see this club chartered,” said Clower who is a member of the Snellville Lions Club and also serves as board chair for the Georgia Lions Lighthouse Foundation.
The 26 members of the GGC Campus Lions Club join the network of more than 10,000 students, faculty, staff and community members in almost 500 clubs that are involved in Campus Lions Clubs.
Both Pearman and Clavarino are members of the GGC Honors Program which provides qualified students an enriched educational experience and enhanced opportunities based on the college’s four core values of scholarship, service, leadership and creativity.
“Our Honors Program offers students not only special classes but also a range of activities beyond the classroom that challenge them to discover the deepest meanings of our core values and apply them to their studies, potential careers and daily lives. Jerhvon’s and Marcelo’s successful efforts to bring the Lions Club to campus are an excellent example of the ways in which our students use their intellectual and creative skills to good effect while leading and serving others in the broader community,” said Dr. Jennifer Wunder, director of the Honors Program.
The official charter celebration for the GGC Campus Lions Club will be held in mid-November and the Lions Club district governor, as well as other members Lions Club leadership, will be in attendance.
The Campus Lions Club is one of over 100 GGC student clubs and organizations that allow students the opportunity to be involved in areas that enhance the college learning experience. These student-founded and student-led clubs allow students to hone their leadership and teamwork skills while seeing classroom lessons come to life.
Georgia Gwinnett College is a four-year, accredited liberal arts college that provides access to targeted baccalaureate level degrees that meet the economic development needs of the growing and diverse population of Gwinnett County and the northeast Atlanta metropolitan region. GGC opened its doors in August 2006 as the nation’s first four-year public college founded in the 21st century, and the first four-year public college founded in Georgia in more than 100 years. Georgia Gwinnett produces contributing citizens and future leaders for Georgia and the nation. Its graduates are inspired to contribute to their local, state, national and international communities and are prepared to anticipate and respond effectively to an uncertain and changing world. Visit Georgia Gwinnett College’s Web site at http://www.ggc.edu.
