Cheerleader exchanges bow for tiara

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Maisie Dyer

Junior Shae Hawthorne is the 2014-2015 Lions Club Queen.

Fear arose behind her eyes as she stepped up to the podium and the first sound emanated from her throat. Although she felt terrified, she became more comfortable during her speech as the audience began to laugh with her. She gasped with joy when she heard her name announced, and she exchanged the bow on her head with a sparkling tiara.

Junior Shae Hawthorne is the 2014-2015 Lions Club Queen, a position she discovered through a former Lions Club Queen. To apply, candidates had to fill out an application, complete an interview and give a five to seven minute speech in front of the Lions Club.

“The other candidates were amazing, and I didn’t expect to get it,” Hawthorne said. “I thought it would be good to try because I like helping people, and being able to do services with the Lions Club was something that I really wanted to do.”

Hawthorne is involved in varsity choir, varsity cheerleading, competitive cheerleading, coaching a special needs team, ASL Honor Society, National Honor Society and leadership at her church. In looking toward the future, Hawthorne said she is interested in becoming a counselor.

“I’ve always known that I want to help people, but wanting to be a counselor is kind of a new thing,” Hawthorne said. “At first I wanted to be a doctor, but after digging deep with my youth group, I realized that I want to help teenagers.”

Hawthorne said in her role as Lions Club Queen, children will look up to her. 

“I know that I can’t mess up when I’m around them,” Hawthorne said. “I love having the responsibility of a role model.”