Both the Russellville High School Beta Club and the Russellville Junior High School Jr. Beta Club recently inducted new members into their ranks. Tanya Mullen is the sponsor of the high school club, and Vicky Mathis and Lauren Fynboe are co-sponsors of the junior high club. In addition to maintaining good grades and performing several hours of service work, Betas must be of worthy moral and ethical character and show exemplary achievement and commendable attitude.
This year’s RHS Beta officers are Danielle White, president; Sarah Williams, vice-president; Rachel Fisher, secretary; Sarah Brown, treasurer; Kelsey Patterson, historian; and Wesley Stratton, parliamentarian. New inductees for the 2014-15 school year include: Brock Cleary, Austin Coursey, Ashlee Gilbert, Skyler Hale, Emma McReynolds, William Mullen, Dillon Porter, Fernanda Rodriguez, Phillip Wilkerson, Lucy Wilkinson, Adam Williams, Madison Keezel, Micah Naylor, Tony Pacheco-Ramirez, Kaylee Ashby, and Hunter Law.
Members of high school Beta Club attended the 3rd District Competition in Bowling Green recently. The following students placed in their categories: Ashlee Gilbert, 1st place Creative Writing; Sarah Brown, Wesley Stratton, Madison Rose, and Phillip Wilkerson, 3rd Place Quiz Bowl; Kaylee Silvey, 1st place Charcoal Drawing; Ma'Leigha Stovall, 1st place Miscellaneous Art; Tony Pacheco, 2nd place Mixed Media Painting; Shayla Oberhausen, 2nd place Sewing Stuffed Animals; Derrick Porter, 2nd place Weaving; Madison Rose, 2nd Place Fabric Painting; and Breann Thomas, 3rd Place Pillows.
Officers in the RJSH Jr. Beta Club are Elly Meyers, president; Jessie Wilson, vice-president; Aishah Dowlen, secretary; Ethan Paul, chaplain; Maleah Buckner, reporter; Kyran Williams, social media reporter; Maleah Buckner, Aishah Dowlen, Stephen Mays, and Benjamin Slack, treasurer committee; and Benjamin Slack, 7thgrade representative.
New inductees are Chloe Whitescarver, Ariana Nickel, Hannah Alford, Anabel Cruz, Colene Day, Trynity Dukes, Karlee Elrod, Cassidy Farwick, Emma-Grace Gwynette, Landrie Lawson, Annalee Leeman, Joshua McMurry, Jade Morris, Angel Rios, Tamera Baskerville, Gage Carr, Destiny Daniels, Ania Hardesty, Eliyah McCarley, Lilith McCoy, Jocelynn Morris, Jermario Schoepflin, Breanna Williams and Haley Hardesty.
Several Jr. Beta students recently had the opportunity to attend a Student Leadership Summit in Gatlinburg, which offered a variety of sessions designed to further their service and leadership work with the Beta organization. Co-sponsors Vicky Mathis and Lauren Fynboe attended the trip; Tina Shoemake and Carolyn DeArmond also attended as chaperones.
Students who attended included Benjamin Slack, Michael DeArmond, Brendan Farlee, Dakota Hamilton, Hunter McDowell, Keyara Rose, Ethan Paul, Elijah Kemp, Brandy West, Madison Hyams, Matthew Wilkerson, Maleah Buckner.
The National Beta Club is the largest independent, non-profit, educational youth organization in America. Its mission is, “To promote the ideals of academic achievement, character, service and leadership among elementary and secondary school students.” The club focuses on four pillars: Achievement (by recognizing and honoring high academic achievement); Character (by preparing young people for life and empowering them to be successful); Leadership (by developing the leaders of tomorrow); and Service (by demonstrating the club motto: Let Us Lead by Serving Others).
The National Junior Beta Club is divided into two divisions: Division I includes grades 4-5 and Division II includes grades 6-8. The RMS Jr. Beta Club is a Division II club. The National Senior Beta Club includes grades 9-12. Regardless of division, though, members adhere to the Beta mission and learn to embrace and embody its four pillars. Over the years, the organization has helped nearly seven million students learn how to make a life for themselves—and, since 1991, it has awarded over $5 million in scholarships. There are now more than 450,000 active members and more than 8,750 clubs nationally and internationally.