James Kerr, Ava White and Rylee Capps were selected as Lions of the Month for January by the Chandler Chapter of the Lions Club.
James Kerr is the son of Richard and Esther Kerr. He has taken four years of Advanced English and has a GPA of 3.5. He has also been in Gifted and Talented for four years and on academic team for two years. He was elected vice president for the Class of 2026 and percussion section leader for band, as well as being on the band leadership team.
Kerr has played basketball for four years and was a two-time Ripley tournament basketball champion, as well as helping the team qualify for the OSSAA state in 2025.
He’s been involved in drama for two years, during which he was a member of the cast that qualifi ed for OSSAA State One Acts in 2024 and 2025, placing fourth both years. He was a member of the production that won fanfavorite and second place at the Oklahoma Thespian One-Act Festival in 2024. In 2025, he helped the cast to win first place as well as be named the Chapter Select winners. Kerr has also qualified in a musical duet for the International Thespian Festival and received a superior rating. He has almost been a member of the International Thespian Society for two years.
Kerr has been in marching and concert band for four years, during which the band was named the 2A State Champions at the Oklahoma Band Association State Competition in 2024. In 2025, the band placed seventh overall. In 2022, the band placed fourth at the Holdenville contest, second at Glenpool in 2023, second at Eufala in 2024, and third at Holdenville in 2025. The Chandler band has also won sweepstakes in 2023, 2024 and 2025.
Other organizations that Kerr has been involved in are golf for four years, ASCC youth group for six years, Business Professionals of America for one year and Student Council for a year. He has also been the videographer and editor for Thespian Troupe 1825.
Kerr’s community involvement includes being a band teacher aide in 2025, a mission trip to Albania in 2022 and working maintenance at Willow Springs Boys Ranch. He has also worked at Hite Drug.
After he graduates, Kerr plans to attend Oklahoma State University and major in sports media.
Ava White is the daughter of Matthew and Shannon Dougherty and Travis and Sarah White. She has lived in Chandler all her life and has attended Chandler Public Schools throughout her education.
White has maintained a 3.88 GPA and completed three years of Honors English along with four concurrent courses through Rose State College. She is currently enrolled in two additional concurrent classes this semester. White has been on the honor roll throughout high school and earned multiple academic awards including Outstanding Student in Spanish II, English 2P, Biology, and Algebra II. She has also received awards for academic excellence and excellence in AP English.
White has been actively involved in FFA since eighth grade and currently serves as president, having previously held the position of vice president. She has won several FFA awards, including Chapter Star Agribusiness, Agricultural Sales Proficiency, and Chapter Star Farmer for 2025. Ava has participated in numerous leadership conferences, including Lead 360 and Alumni Camp. She has also excelled in prepared public speaking competi-tions, advancing to third at the area level. In addition, White has shown cattle since she was eight years old and has earned multiple awards through her years of dedication. She is currently a member of the Oklahoma Junior Shorthorn Association.
In addition to FFA, Ava is a two-year member of the National Honor Society, serving as the secretary this year. She is also a member of Positive Peers and was a member of FCCLA during her freshman and sophomore years. White is a member of the BancFirst Student Board and Rotary Club.
Through involvement in her extracurriculars, White has participated in a variety of community service. Some of this includes Angel Tree shopping, Stamp Out Starvation, reading to students at Eastside Elementary, volunteering at the Regional foodbank and Shawnee animal shelter, and fire hydrant cleanups.
After graduation, White plans to attend the University of Central Oklahoma to pursue a degree in Communications with a Journalism minor.
No information was submitted for Rylee Capps.