Lavender demonstrates character

The Edmond Sun

EDMOND June 27, 2007 11:30 pm

— The Edmond City Council, in coordination with the Character Council of Edmond, recognized Lee Lavender, as “Champions of Character” for the character trait of discernment, during the Monday evening City Council meeting.
Lavender has demonstrated the character trait of discernment by her skilled attention to details and dedication to self-improvement in the knowledge as a community pharmacist, not only benefiting the patients that rely on her discernment, care, experience and understanding, but also in benefiting her fellow employees at Hospital Discount Pharmacy in Edmond as well.
“Lee probably works harder than anyone I’ve ever known when it comes to self-improvement, and I mean in the spiritual as well as professional and physical sense,” wrote Paula Miller in her nomination of Lavender as a person of character.
“I think all of her patients as well as employees would agree that she goes ‘above and beyond’ when it comes to doing the right thing. Because of her attention to details, and love for God’s word, she is always examining her service to the Lord, to her family, customers and employees.”
Lavender grew up in the Oklahoma City area, but received her K-12 education in the Edmond school district; graduating from Edmond Memorial High School. She then completed her pre-pharmacy work at the University of Central Oklahoma, and enrolled in Oklahoma University’s pharmacy degree program.
“I was planning on medical school,” she said, “but just lucked into pharmacy; I love it, really.”
During school, Lavender did her pharmacy rotation at Hospital Discount Pharmacy and enjoyed the experience so much she continued to visit with Charles Braden — the owner and now her business partner — with a desire to work there after her she graduated.
“I would say Charles has been an enormous influence on me. His compassion for patients and dedication to customer service are second to none.”
The Champions of Character effort is sponsored by the Character Council of Edmond, a grassroots, nonprofit organization committed to creating a citywide initiative to build Edmond into a “City of Character.” The group believes the character of a nation only can be strengthened one person at a time, one community at a time.
Toward that end, the Character Council of Edmond seeks to recognize residents who demonstrate the character trait each month. A list of these monthly traits for 2007 may be found on the organization’s Web site.
To nominate a resident as a “Champion of Character,” log on to www.edmondcharacter.org or write: Champions of Character, P.O. Box 392, Edmond, Ok 73083-0392.