University of North Alabama - Diorama Yearbook (Florence, AL)

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i ir ROYAL CELEBRATION The King of Lion Country is honored with an all day bash in recognition of his second birthday i BY CHRIS CREEI «n April 13 the university celebrated the second birthday of Leo II. April 14 was the birth date of the original mascot and the university continues the tra- dition of honoring Leo on or around that day. Joe Wallace, director of Univer- sity Events and Recruiting, is also the trustee and trainer of Leo II. He explained that it is a common prac- tice for monarchs to celebrate on the birthday of their predecessor. Wallace said, Over the past few years the celebration of Leo ' s birth- day has become an all day event. This year we had 800 children from local elementary schools and day- care centers attend the party. The focus of the party is the opportunity for the university to honor the com- panies which sponsor Leo. Showbiz Pizza and Wal-Mart of Florence are the major spon sors. Each of these companies donate ■Nkt.- wS Im UONS GET THIRSTV loo. especially after the excitement of a birthday party. Leo II takes time to quench his thirst In his water trough. (Photo by Mark A. Casteel) $1,000 a year to the Leo fund. UNA honored both of these com- panies with a plaque at the party. Pepsi Cola is also a sponsor and donated drinks for the party. The Printer ' s Cove company donated ' Leo ' tee-shirts which we sell in order to raise money for the Leo fund. Sadonna Collier is Leo ' s keeper. She played a large part in Leo ' s birthday party. I was responsible for buying Leo ' s birthday presents, said Collier. Some of his presents included a frisbee, bowling pins, a Pepsi barrel and several balls. All of the presents were wrapped and Leo unwrapped them all. He managed to pop one of the balls before he got it unwrapped, said Collier. Collier was also responsible for assisting the Ambassadors and Golden Girls who decorated the lion ' s cage. GOLDEN GIRLS Lori Brown and Angle Evans serve as hostesses at Leo ' s birthday party. The Golden Girls and Ambassadors also help Leo throughout the year by taking up donations, the primary source of income for Leo ' s upkeep. (Photo by Mark A. Casteel) STUDENTS AND SMALL CHILDREN were not the only guests who visited Leo 11 on his spe- cial day. President Robert L. Potts, University Relations Director Bill Jarnlgan and Chuck Worley made an appearance at the royal gala. (Photo by Mark A. Casteel) Golden Girl Co-Captain Lori Brown said, There was a tent in front of Leo ' s cage in which we served drinks and cake. The cake was huge and had a big lion ' s head for decoration. President [Robert L.] Potts made a speech thanking the companies which sponsor Leo and presented plaques to these companies. Melissa Cameron, also a Golden Girl, said, I remember that the Chucky Cheese mouse from Show- biz Pizza was at the party. Teachers from many local schools brought children to the party. The children ask a lot of ques- tions about Leo. Some of them ask what kind of food Leo eats. I enjoyed answering all of the ques- tions for the children. For everyone who loves the mascot, Leo ' s second birthday celebration was a way of showing their appreciation. 12

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OMt WINNERS The counselors make advanced registration fun (and painless) for freshmen and transfers BY )OHN WILLIAMS While many students are taking a break during the summer, some are busy showing incoming freshmen and transfer students around campus and preparing them for what lies ahead in their education. These people are SOAR Coun- sebrs. and though it may app ear that they arc always having fun during the SOAR sessions, all of them will admit that it is also a kjt of hard work Why does anyone choose to be a SOAR counsckjr? There are a number of reasons, and each response varies from one counselor to another. Jackie Allen enjoyed her first yammer as a SOAR counseter this - and she sakj that it is a thrill «ig a counsebr Tm getting to help those stu- dents who otherwise woukl be k st in the fall, Allen said. The chance to serve the univer- sity was one of the reasons that Paul Foster wanted to be a SOAR coun- sek)r. He also wanted to become acquainted with the other coun- seksrs and find out what they wanted to do to help the SOARees. Foster does not believe, however, that involvement in the SOAR pro- gram should stop with the counsebrs. Other students should also get involved with the SOAR program, he said. Two ways of doing this are by being a member of either the SOAR Cabaret cast or the crew. Carmella Miley, who was one of the cast members last year, sakl that she wanted to be a counselor because she wanted to help the new students so that they coukd be well- adapted when they come back in the fall. What was niost worthwhile for Miley, however, was getting to know the other SOAR counsebrs, she sakl. Lori Brown said she became a SOAR counselor because she wanted to be involved on campus. She also said that she wanted to help freshmen start their first year off right. Most importantly, she wanted to be able to help the SOARees after SOAR was over. Getting to know the freshmen on a personal level wiD also be help- ful, Brown said, because if th«»y need help throughout the year, they will know who their SOAR coun- sek r was. Though the reasons for being a SOAR counsebr are many, all of the counsebrs will agree on one thing: it is worthwhile for everyone who is involved. ' ■■y iv.f: SOAR COUNSEtORfe are diways UfSing t9 • .1 ■ extra guidonci .-.r ); -. ' conceminfl various - academic progratns MaWa Nejms lakes . lima 10 he)p Kriai B«rtll bv explaining thcjir ?, freshman cour « ' f ' :}ffi reqiiirementi: iBfaatiM - .V,-,r

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ALT 1 X)GH LEO en)oyt chewing on barreb. hit actual dM b more nutrllious. Leo eab ten pound of maM per day. (Photo by MaifcA. CMlaeQ Imftt 13