Creating and maintaining a successful college club can be particularly difficult. With the constant stress of collegiate academics and the ever present reality that there are perhaps more fun things to do than helping others, it takes a lot for university clubs to mobilize individuals to help. But Operation Smile University of New Mexico remains a shining example of how it really is possible for students to conquer the looming threat of collegiate apathy. It seems easy to be involved in extracurricular and volunteer in high school, but sadly it seems that students often lose that passion and self motivation quickly after being accepted to college. So often students who were extremely involved in Operation Smile in high school give up and don't make the effort to continue their involvement. Operation Smile UNM beats the odds. The club was started and run by many of the same leaders who helped to make Albuquerque area clubs successful in the Student Programs community and has continued to work to inspire new college students to get involved.
Recently they have helped "Team Panama" member and UNM club president Megan Lloyd in all sorts of ways with our efforts to plan the U-Lead conference in Panama, proving that every project in Op Smile can and should be a team effort. They have helped in the ground level to do things like designing t-shirts and donating gifts for guest speakers. Recently they held a bake sale and a "What Makes Me Smile" to raise a little extra dough for U-Lead supplies. They set up a booth in a common area on campus and sold donated baked goods. They raised about $90 dollars in just a few hours work and spread awareness by having passers by share what makes them smile. Now that's what we like to see!
Thank you for your help, UNM!
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