Branson, Missouri - High schools from all over Missouri travelled to Branson for a three day weekend to participate in the annual Missouri State Beta Convention. Members participated in many different categories of academics, performances, and many other activities during their stay. Beta Club is a club for students that uphold academic excellence throughout their high school years.
This year, there were nearly three thousand Missouri students that attended the Moon River Theater to elect the new officers, get inspired by the number of speakers, and bond with their fellow Betas. The theme of the 2013 Convention is “The Heart of Beta” and the National Convention will be held on June 19th-22nd in Mobile, Alabama.
Last year, the Missouri Betas elected all three officers from the Southeast Missouri area. Zachary Goode is from Bloomfield High School and held the position of Missouri State Beta President. Sarah B. Wilson is a student from Malden High School and was elected the Vice President last year. Jessica Shidler is a member of the Richland High School Beta Club and held the position of Secretary.
Bloomfield, Malden, and Richland have become quite the Beta trio throughout the past couple of years. This year, the same three schools were put in office again.
Darren Green (Malden), was elected as the new President with his Big Beta Theory campaign skit and competed against Vinburnum High School for the position. Green is a proud leader of the Malden Betas who also took 1st place in Creative Writing, Oratory Competition, Campaign Skit, and Group Talent. Wilson has officially completed her job as the State Vice President but Green is eager to step in and represent Malden at Nationals over the summer.
Kannon Qualls (Richland), was elected the new Vice President with his “Express Yourself” campaign skit. While growing up with autism, Qualls knew that the song and skit was perfect to represent his personality and his speech. Qualls defeated nine other schools from all over Missouri and was named the 2013 Vice President. Richland also took second place in the Acrylic Painting Competition and third place in the Spelling Competition.
Kendra Elder (Bloomfield), was voted in as the new Beta Secretary with her “Kicking It With Kendra” campaign skit. Bloomfield ran against two other schools and successfully placed 2nd in the Campaign Skit Competition. They also performed in Special Talent with a vocal/instrumental quartet entitled “Fly”.
Not only officers were elected at the Beta Convention, but the members also got to experience multiple inspirational stories and speakers throughout their weekend. Throughout the three different sessions held in the theater, the students got to enjoy comedies, music, and other talents all weekend long.
The officers from last year are now on the road travelling with visiting officers and are eager and willing to attend other Beta Conventions across the country. Missouri was proud to have a total of thirteen visiting officers, including the South Carolina and National Secretary who performed an amazing dance routine and gave an outstanding speech called “Run, Forrest, Run”.
The Beta Club motto is “Lead by serving others” and the members that attend this convention really stick to that saying. Together, the Missouri schools raised multiple thousands of dollars to donate to St. Jude Children’s Hospital and also contributed to the MDA Foundation while they were at convention. The Betas were also surprised when a member of the Herschend family, the same Herschend that own both Silver Dollar City and Dollywood, took the stage and spoke to the Betas about the value of giving and the happiness and fulfillment that comes with it.
Throughout the weekend, all of the Missouri clubs and their members bonded together and learned new things from all of the people that came onto the stage. There was a lot of laughter, standing ovations, and maybe even a few tears. Overall, the convention was an overall success and the Missouri State Trio will be heading to Mobile, Alabama to represent the state of Missouri once more in June.
Congratulations to all of the winners!
