LAWTON - Jessica Meza was having the time of her life Friday at the Lawton Public School Foundation (LPSF) Breakfast.
All you had to do was ask her.
“It’s been really fun,” the Lawton High School (LHS) senior said with a big smile as she took a break from taking empty plates to the kitchen. “I’ve never done this. It’s kind of stressful with the amount of people.”
Meza was one of more than a dozen students in leadership positions at Lawton’s three high schools who volunteered to help bus tables, scrape plates and get drinks for the hundreds who turned out at Golden Corral on Friday for the annual fundraiser, which helps provide grants to Lawton Public Schools teachers.
Meza wasn’t the only one enjoying her volunteering duties. Layla Moseby, a senior at MacArthur High School (MHS), also was having a good time. Her favorite part was connecting with others in the community.
“I like interacting with people in a social environment,” she said. “This is pretty social. It’s quite busy in here, but I’m not complaining.”
Like Moseby, Jaycee Mason, a senior at Eisenhower High School (EHS), said talking with people was her favorite part of volunteering at the breakfast.
“I like to see all the people around Lawton and talk to everyone,” she said.
LHS sophomore Alonzo Simpson said he was learning patience from the experience.
“In the beginning, it was really chilled and relaxed, but now it’s moving swiftly,” he said. “I just want to give back to the community. I want to get in some community service hours. I was gifted with talents and I want to give back.”
Like Simpson, EHS senior Lauren Muller was volunteering for the first time at the breakfast.
“I wanted to represent Eisenhower for leadership,” she said. “I hope to serve our community and support Lawton Public Schools as a whole. I want the community to come out and get a good breakfast.”
Community service was a theme for most of the student volunteers.
“I really wanted to help our community and I like volunteering,” said MHS senior Nic Chadwell.
Chadwell spent his time in the kitchen as well scraping plates, piling them up to be put in the dishwasher and making sure people had something to drink.
“I just expected to be open minded for everyone and put on a happy face for everyone,” he said. “I like just seeing everyone happy and eating good.”
And everyone seemed to be eating good. MHS principal Danny Smith said he was stuffed as he made his way to the exit.
The student leaders served over 800 breakfast attendees and LPSF collected over $26,000.