Beta Club is a big deal for most of our schools in Southeast Missouri but some people may not know that Jr. Beta Club is also a great opportunity and organization to prepare the students for the bigger club that they will get to join when they get to high school. Today, a huge event with great meaning took place at T.S. Hill Middle School in Dexter.
Beta Club (both Senior and Junior) is a club that was founded upon hard work, academics, and serving others. There are many lessons to be learned from the club and its several conventions throughout the years and the new members of T.S. Hills got to experience that for the first time this afternoon.
Today was the Induction Ceremony as Dexter Middle School’s Junior Beta Club welcomed 253 brand new Beta members. The Ceremony was done orderly and successfully and each new member left while proudly wearing a Jr. Beta pin.Angie Duncan welcomed the family and friends that attended the Ceremony while the soon-to-be-Betas waited patiently for their initiation. Ashlynn Wyman then led the auditorium in the Pledge of Allegiance and also sang the National Anthem along with Angel Maze, Sarah Miller, and Caroline Powers. Scott Kruse then took the stage and explained all of the hard work the students went through to be at this Induction Ceremony including working hard in the classroom and performing acts of community service throughout their daily routines.
The lighting of the candles is a Beta Club tradition and each candle that is lit represents something that the Beta Club strives for. Mindy Thurmon was given the opportunity of lighting the white candle that symbolizes light, purity and faith. Belinda Delay lit the red candle, symbolizing pure love and wisdom. Jeannie Cato lit the blue candle which symbolizes truth, constancy, and fidelity. Kristi Boles lit the black candle which signifies dignity, restraint, and seriousness and a Beta’s thirst for knowledge and truth. Mindy Thurlkill lit the gold (or yellow) candle which signifies warmth, faithfulness, and friendship.
The Ceremony ended after each student was inducted into the club but this is just the beginning for the new Beta members. For many Betas, this is a memorable and exciting event where your many family members and friends get to join you as you take a step toward your future goal. Beta Club doesn’t only help keep kids on track to success, but they also help you realize the things that you want to be successful in. Beta opens doors for many opportunities in several different areas such as academics, fine arts, public speaking, musical performances, Quiz Bowl competitions, and many more. Aside from different competitions, the club also builds character and gives each member a sense of responsibility and honor that they will carry with them the rest of their Beta career.
This Friday on November 30th, the Missouri State Junior Beta Convention will be held at the Black River Coliseum in Poplar Bluff. The club plans on attending with other schools in the Missouri region. There are many competitions that can be entered into such as academics, fine arts, and musical performances but each chapter is given the chance to run for office, which gives each club a chance to play a bigger and broader part in the Junior Beta Club.
We hope that you have a great time at the State Convention on Friday and that you take to heart what you learn from the inspirational speakers and other Beta leaders so that you can “Lead By Serving Others” for not only the rest of the year, but so that you can stay a true Beta at heart for many years to come.
