The Okmulgee Lions Club held two engaging meetings this month, each marked by community updates, member spotlights and meaningful discussions about local education and civic involvement.
— OPS Superintendent Copeland shares insight on Okmulgee schools At the Oct. 14 meeting, the Okmulgee Lions Club welcomed Okmulgee Public Schools Superintendent LuVona Copeland as the featured guest, introduced by program chair Lion Duaine Janzen. Mrs. Copeland was accompanied by Kenneth Grover.
A lifelong advocate for education, Copeland shared that her passion stems from her father, who was also an educator. Her own journey in education has been deeply rooted in Okmulgee – beginning as a Business Technology Education teacher at Okmulgee High School, later advancing to high school principal, then assistant superintendent, before assuming her current role as district superintendent last year.
During her address, Copeland outlined the recent challenges faced by Okmulgee High School, including long-standing structural issues on the southwest side of the building and water damage in the school’s library.
When a structural engineer from Dallas, who had previously consulted with the district, evaluated the situation, the findings prompted urgent action. With the school year approaching quickly, an emergency school board meeting was called. The decision was made to temporarily relocate high school classes to the former Westside Elementary building (CAAT campus).
According to Copeland, the CAAT campus offered 13 classrooms, enough space to accommodate students and staff, while buses now shuttle students to and from the agriculture campus and band room.
She praised the dedicated teachers, staff and maintenance personnel, especially John Neal and his team, for their tireless efforts to prepare the new space in time. Copeland also expressed gratitude to Joe’s Restaurant and Casey’s for generously providing meals to the workers during the move.
“Okmulgee schools provide many opportunities for our young people,” Copeland said, noting that the district remains committed to transparency and community communication. She assured Lions members that the district would continue to update the community as plans for the high school’s future develop.
– New Member Spotlight: Chase Nunn At the Oct. 28 meeting, members celebrated one of their own as newest Lion, Chase Nunn, enjoyed his “15 minutes of fame.”
Nunn, 36, has spent most of his life in Okmulgee. Married to his high school sweetheart, he is the proud father of one son. Reflecting on his upbringing, Nunn described a wonderful childhood shared with his sister, PJ, and their loving parents.
A former Okmulgee High School wrestler, Nunn later pursued professional cage fighting, developing a passion for combat sports. Today, he works at Kimberly-Clark and owns Prowess Fitness Gym in Okmulgee. In addition to his professional and athletic pursuits, Nunn recently began a new chapter in public service after being elected to the Okmulgee School Board, where his very first vote involved the challenging decision about the future of Okmulgee High School facilities.
Nunn shared his personal interests, which include movies, music, combat sports and trading cards, and expressed excitement about serving his community through Lions Club involvement. Members welcomed him warmly, noting his enthusiasm and leadership as a great addition to the club.
– Strengthening Membership & Communication The meeting also featured remarks from Lion Bernard Kohnen, who spoke about the importance of communication and member engagement. Kohnen emphasized how communication tools have evolved and encouraged members to embrace all available platforms to enhance outreach.
He also discussed ways to increase participation and share responsibilities within the club, such as forming subcommittees to distribute tasks more evenly. His suggestions were well received as members continue exploring strategies to sustain the club’s long-standing tradition of service in Okmulgee.
