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Clarkton School of Discovery’s Junior Beta Attend State Convention
Sixty-two Clarkton School of Discovery’s Junior Beta Club attended the North Carolina Junior Beta Convention February 9th -10th, in Greensboro. This year’s theme was “Betas, Rockin’ the Country.” During the convention, members participated in various academic and artistic competitions.
Autumn Paige Brisson, a 7th grade student and daughter of Alan and Angela Brisson of Bladenboro and granddaughter of Representative William and Brenda Brisson of Dublin, campaigned for the office of North Carolina Junior Beta Club Vice President. After campaign speeches and skits, over 3,400 Junior Beta members from across the state, voted for the candidate of their choice. Autumn was elected and will serve as the North Carolina Junior Beta Vice President for the 2015-2016 academic years. This is the 7th consecutive year a CSD student has been elected to serve as a state officer.
Several students wrote and choreographed the 3rd place winning campaign skit titled “A.P.B. for V.P. The skit was a combination of two police officers portrayed by Spencer Scott and Juan Mejia, chasing after Alayna Hester, as our V.P. on the loose. Students sang and danced promoting Autumn’s bid for office to a rewritten version of Taylor Swifts, “Shake It Off” using Autumn’s intials as their campaign slogan and concept. Students dressed in Autumn shirts saying “Vote A.P.B. for V.P.”
In addition to Autumn’s state office, many other CSD Beta Members shined. Greyson Heustess and Spencer Scott won 1st place with their banner displaying a guitar formed out of the United States map and a ‘juke box’ renaming songs as the creeds of the National Junior Beta Club. Ashley Hardin designed and created a 2nd place winning wreath formed from old 45’ records with retitled songs using the Beta creeds.
Clarkton’s Junior Betas also successfully made Top 5 and a 2nd place finish with their Group Talent titled “CSD Jr. Betas are on Fire”. During the group talent several members sang rewritten versions of Adele’s “Set Fire to the Rain”, Billy Joel’s “We Didn’t Start the Fire”, and Fall Out Boy’s “Light Em Up”. Lead singers were: Alyssa Bell, Cybil Campbell, Peyton Fell, Ethan Fletcher, and Destini Jones. During the performance Olivia Barnes narrated and gave details of how CSD sets their club on ‘fire’ by leading others. During the group talent lead dancers presented lyrical routines with partners and solos by Bella Britt and Anna Kate White. The stage was lit up even brighter by Camille Campbell, Ashley Earl and Lorna Mendell with an electrifiying clogging routine. All the Jr. Betas returned to the stage creating fire with ribbons, and cheerleading stunts. It was truly a fire enlightened performance giving them a bid to compete at the National Convention in June.
The club also finished 3rd place in the Songfest Competition. Songfest is a competition in which a club rewrites a song of their choice and presents in with limited movements. CSD rewrote the popular song, “Boondocks” by Little Big Town. During the rewriting process the students had to incorporate the convention theme “Beta Rockin’ the Country”. This is only the second time CSD has qualified and placed in this prestigious event.
Marshall Tatum, son of Stevie and Renee Tatum of Elizabethtown, presided over the convention as Secretary. During the first session he gave his keynote address titled #NCJR15, challenging all North Carolina Junior Betas to use social media to display their acts of kindness and inspiration and continue it until the National Convention. In addition, Marshall presided over the second general session, giving announcements and introducing the candidates to the Beta delegates.
Cybil Campbell of Elizabethtown, was invited to give an inspirational speech and invocation to all sponsors during their business meeting and breakfast. She encouraged the sponsors to continue guiding their students and to remember to believe in their selves even when they become discouraged and stressed.
Clarkton School of Discovery Beta member, Alyssa Bell of Dublin, was given the distinguished honor of singing the National Anthem during opening ceremonies. Bobby Hart, Chief Operating Officer of the National Beta Club complimented Miss Bell, stating, “ After all the conventions he had attended, Miss Bell sang it the best he had heard all year.”
In addition to student success, Clarkton School of Discovery’s Beta Sponsor Heather Guyton Thompson served and presided over the convention as State Sponsor. Mrs. Thompson organized and led the state officers through a successful convention. She also assisted with the North Carolina Senior Beta Convention coordinating and judging several events. In addition, Mrs. Thompson briefed the North Carolina Beta Club Council on the statistics of the Junior level and presented several new 21st century competitions to be added to next year’s program. Mrs. Thompson is actively persuing making Bladen County a true Beta county, in which all schools, Elementary-High School, will be active Beta schools. “Beta Club offers so many opportunities to students and tons of scholarships. This is a definite source we need to tap into in Bladen county.”
Mrs. Thompson gives credit to her fellow CSD Beta Sponsors and parents for helping her organize competitions and other small details that could not have been completed without their help and support. She will now serve on the North Carolina Beta Club Council for two years.
This year was CSD’s eighth year competing at the state level and their eighth consecutive invitation to the National Convention. The club’s sponsors are: Nancy Clark, Stephanie Ensminger, Allison Kirby, Sheila Nance and Heather Guyton Thompson. The Junior Betas would like to thank everyone for all their help, guidance and support.
Clarkton’s Junior Beta Club is busily preparing for the National convention that will be held in Nashville, Tennessee in June. They are currently planning their 4th Annual Beta Fundraiser Dinner and Showcase, to present their entire award winning activities.
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