In honor and memory of Campbell County Veteran Staff Sgt. Alex Lawson

The full Beta Club is pictured, along with Smoky Mountain Service Dog Representative and family members of Staff Sgt. Alex Lawson.

By Charlotte Underwood 

JACSKBORO, TN (WLAF) – The Campbell County High School Beta Club made a check presentation to Smoky Mountain Service Dogs on Tuesday for more than $3,000 as its most recent service project. The funds will be used to purchase a puppy that will be trained and given to a veteran.

Smoky Mountain Service Dogs is a nonprofit organization run solely by volunteers. It serves wounded veterans by providing them with “custom trained, mobility assistance service dogs” at no cost to the veteran.

The Beta Club donation was made in honor and memory of Campbell County Veteran Staff Sgt. Alex Lawson, who passed away suddenly in 2019. He was the nephew of CCHS teacher and Beta Club advisor Wanda Snodgrass, making the project dear to her heart. Lawson’s father Ronnie Lawson and step-mother Chancellor Elizabeth Asbury were also present for the check presentation.

The Beta Club sold hearts for $1, and then placed them on display in the hallway. The Beta Club donation was made in honor and memory of Campbell County Veteran Staff Sgt. Alex Lawson, who passed away suddenly in 2019.

Snodgrass spoke briefly about her nephew and why the Beta Club chose Smoky Mountain Service Dogs as a service project.

“As many of you know this was done in honor of my nephew Staff Sgt. Alexander Lawson; he served five tours in the Army in Special Forces and was only 32 years old, and on March 13 of 2019 committed suicide. My family and I have been rocked to the core. Many of you have been touched by suicide, whether it has been a friend or a loved one and I know there is hurt out there and I cannot begin to thank you all enough for this,” Snodgrass said.

 Mike Kitchens and board member Laurie Birt with Smoky Mountain Service Dogs attended the ceremony to receive the check, along with service dog ambassador Winston.

The CCHS Beta Club made a check presentation to Smoky Mountain Service Dogs in honor of deceased Campbell County Veteran Staff Sgt. Alex Lawson.

Winston gave a short demonstration for the students showing how he could retrieve things off the floor and other tasks such as retrieving a phone, along with other basic commands.

Smoky Mountain Service Dog Volunteer Chair Mike Kitchens spoke briefly about the organization and what it does in Tennessee.

“Since we started in 2013, we’ve been able to assist 67 wounded veterans by placing mobility assistance service dogs with them. Many of our recipients have suffered limb loss, traumatic brain injury or other injuries where balance and stability is compromised,” Kitchens said.

In order to raise funds, the Beta Club sold hearts for $1 each and then those hearts were put on display on a billboard along the hallway.

“We had students that weren’t even in BETA Club gave of their time to raise funds for this. We had a goal for $2,500 that we were going to try to raise to sponsor the purchase of a puppy that would be trained by the Smoky Mountain Service Dogs to go to a deserving vet. When we told you guys what our mission was, you didn’t just stand up, you stood out, if you couldn’t give, you gave in different ways and shared posts on Facebook, Instagram, and we greatly appreciate that,” Snodgrass said.

The CCHS Beta Club made a check presentation to Smoky Mountain Service Dogs in honor of deceased Campbell County Veteran Staff Sgt. Alex Lawson. The Beta Club sold hearts for $1, and then placed them on display in the hallway. From left to right is Ronnie Lawson, Raley Snodgrass, Wanda Snodgrass, Winston, Laurie Birt and Mike Kitchens with Smoky Mountain Service Dogs.

In total, the school raised $3,092.93. A private donor also donated to Smoky Mountain Service Dogs in honor of the CCHS Beta Club in the amount of $2,500 as well, making the total donation to the organization $5,592.93, according to Snodgrass.

Snodgrass said she was overwhelmed by the outpouring of donations for the service project.

“I want to thank each and every student, staff, administration, our Campbell County Board of Education who approved the fundraising, Mr. Ben Foust who didn’t hesitate to do this project, and to Josh Parker who brought me onto Beta Club this year and gave me full reign, so thank you for that. We had staff that gave very generously. Our JROTC as a club took up money and donated a rather large amount as a club, I want to thank them. A special thanks to Garza Law Firm, The Hampton Inn at Caryville, Jacksboro GNC, Cross Fit of Knoxville and many, many, numerous individuals who gave,” Snodgrass said.

The Beta Club sold hearts for $1, and then placed them on display in the hallway.

She and the students also made a bargain with Smoky Mountain Service Dogs that since the Beta Club had raised over $5,000, they got to name the puppy.

It’s going to be a dog named “Cougar.” (WLAF NEWS PUBLISHED – 04/24/2024-6AM)

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