Along with some several hundred kids across Arkansas, 22 Beta Club members took a bus, chaperoned by three teachers, to Hot Springs for the annual State Beta Convention. For a single weekend, students competed in several events, and Searcy’s Beta members were very successful and happy with the outcome of the convention. Memories were made, and friendships were strengthened–all because of a convention.
“The national Beta Club puts on the Beta Convetntion so Beta kids from all over Arkansas can come and compete and show off their talents with the talent show or by making the banner, or their academic skills in the acedemic categories, ” Trisha White, English teacher and Beta Club sponsor said.
“The reason I like to take kids to the Beta convention is because I think it gives them a unique memory to have of highschool, and I like them to create good memories to take with them when they go,” White said.
Each Beta student got to compete individually in an event. Some participated in making The Convention’s “theme” banner, others in the quiz bowl tournament, and others in math and other academic tests, as well as art contests and the most popular Talent show.
“I was on banner, and we got first place and it was really cool,” Montana Wallace said. “And when we were there, we actually sat for a while, waiting to compete while we watched the talent show.”
Allyson Ferren, a senior was the only member of the group that actually competed in the talent contest. There were many talented kids that performed, and although she did not necessarily win, she took with her a great memory.
“I competed with Justin Rose, he played guitar and I sang, in front of like hundreds of people,” Ferrin said. “It was really scary, but I’m really glad we did that.”
There were many favorite parts about this convention, especially for the sponsors when SHS won first place in the banner contest, and Edwin Sherwood placed third in the math contest, and when the SHS quiz-bowl team placed third.
“My favorite thing about Beta Convention is always seeing the kids excited and seeing the kids represent Searcy well–and the best part about this convention was seeing the kids do that over and over again, ” White said.
The students especially enjoyed spending time with each other. Being in the same place all day and night for an entire weekend spawned much bonding. With trips to restaurants, the local mall, and a long night at the convention sponsored Dance party, the students spent a lot of time together.
“There is a crazy person inside Mrs. White,” Dakota Galban, said with a laugh. “And it came out. Let me tell ya that! She was jumping up and down…it was amazing! She was so happy. I was happy. We were all happy…it just came out of her, a little more than it did the rest of us.”
Wallace enjoyed getting to know the teachers outside of school.
“They were really funny, it was just awesome getting to hang out with them outside of school. Mr. Mayes is always still really funny, and he would take naps on the bus..while he was driving,” Wallace said. “And Mrs. White and Mrs. Brown–it was just really good getting to hang with them.”
With speehes and plays to watch all day, students laughed and bonded a lot.
“Laughing with everyone and having a good time with everyone who went–there’s a lot
of bonding on this trip, and it’s the best part, ” Emily Ladd said.
Senior Jarrod Creameans said he enjoyed hanging out with people he didn’t know that well before the trip.
“My favorite part about Beta Convention was probably just getting to know everybody more–I didn’t know a lot of the people that went really well, but I sure do now, ” Jarrod Creameans said.
All in all, after the convention was over, the students returned with a sense of longing to turn back time so that the fun could have lasted just a little bit longer.
“As soon as I got back, I felt like my life was missing something, and I’ve been striving to find it, just to fill that hole that is in my heart…but I know that hole is where Beta Convention lies,” Wallace said.
