Star-Journbal Editor
Tonja Wienck was surprised to learn that she had just won a most-coveted Lions Club award.
But the roar of approval she received at the Hillsboro Noon Lions Club meeting June 15 was proof that the pride took pride in seeing her get the Presidential Certificate of Appreciation Award.
Recognizing "a passion to excel in service to the organization," the award will be given to only a few Lions in Kansas this year, according to Ernest Young, Jr., International Director of the organization, from Lansing.
Young was on hand to present the award to Wienck, who wasn't expecting her name to be called.
"I was kind of oblivious, I guess," Wienck said. "I wasn't expecting to get an award this week."
Wienck, who was nominated for the award by fellow Hillsboro Noon Lions Club members, works as a counselor at Hillsboro Middle School. Her "passion to excel in service" is with the Lions Club program for 12- to 18-year-olds, called Leos.
In addition to leading the 40-member Leos chapter in Hillsboro, she chairs the district and state Leos chapters as well.
"I just wish I had more time to devote to it," she said.
Lions Clubs International is the world's largest service club organization with nearly 1.4 million members in 46,000 clubs in 193 countries. And now there's now an entire pride of Lions living in Wienck's den.
Tonja's husband, Doug, is a Lion, and their son, Evan, 12, joined Leos this past weekend.
Wienck said her seven years with the organization have been enjoyable and worthwhile.
"I really love it," she said.
