LUMBERTON — PSRC students brought home more than 30 awards from recent NC State Beta Convention events in Greensboro.
More than 300 students attended the events and participated in a variety of competitions. Students brought home 35 awards including nine first-place State Champion Awards. In addition, Keely Deal, a seventh grader at Prospect Elementary School, was elected North Carolina Junior State President for the 2023-2024 school year.
All students who placed at the NC State Convention have the opportunity to compete at the National Beta Competition this summer in Louisville, Kentucky.
“Honestly, it was a different experience from other conventions I've been to. I was really amazed to see how many students who attended exhibited leadership and truly cared about their community and were willing to serve," said Junior Torres Diaz, an 11th grader at St. Pauls High School who took 5th Place in the 11th grade Agriscience Event.
Pembroke Elementary participated in the Convention for the first time and had six students place this year, including two first-place State Champion Awards.
“Our first experience as a club at State Convention has been nothing short of amazing,” said Ilya Hunt, Pembroke Elementary’s Beta Club sponsor.
“Our students have made amazing memories together that have strengthened our club to the core and established a foundation for years to come for the younger Beta generation at Pembroke Elementary School,” Hunt added.
Students in Elementary, Junior and Senior Beta Clubs were represented at the events. Elementary and Junior Beta Club members attended the NC Junior Beta Convention from Jan. 29-Jan. 31 and Senior Beta Club members attended the NC Senior Beta Convention from Jan. 27-28 at the Joseph S. Koury Convention Center in Greensboro.
“We are proud of our Beta scholars and sponsors for their hard work and dedication this year,” said Drew Davis, Director of Curriculum and Instruction at PSRC.
“This year we set a record within the PSRC school district for the most schools and students who participated and placed at the convention, and we couldn't be more excited for them,” Davis added.
Prospect Elementary educator Jamie Burney shared words of excitement for the district and gratitude for his role as the North Carolina Junior Beta Club State Sponsor.
“Being the N.C. State Sponsor for the past eight years has been one of the biggest honors and most rewarding experiences for me,” Burney said.
“Seeing students from our county, state and nation live up to our motto ‘Let us lead by serving others’ has been a blessing to me. It is my honor to be able to contribute to our future by impacting student leaders,” Burney added.
PSRC Superintendent Dr. Freddie Williamson also commended students for their hard work.
“We are extremely proud of our students and they are to be commended for their hard work and efforts,” Williamson said. “We will continue to promote programs that will encourage our students to excel, build confidence and thrive in our classrooms and beyond.”
Elementary Division Winners
- Pembroke Elementary: Sakyiah Bullard, 1st Place Champion, Visual Arts - Fiber Art; Deana Revels, 1st Place Champion, Visual Arts - Jewelry; Baileigh Malcolm, 1st Place Champion, Visual Arts - Black and White Photography; Jada Freeman, 2nd Place, Visual Arts - Painting; and Jeremiah Cintron, 2nd Place, Visual Arts - Drawing; Harmonee Chavis, 4th Place, Academics - Science 5th Grade Event.
- Magnolia Elementary: Natalie Oxendine, Koryan Locklear and Jacey McGirt, 4th Place, Performing Arts Solo, Duo, Trio Variety Acts Junior.
- St. Pauls Elementary: Vanessa Cano, 3rd Place, Visual Arts - Jewelry; St. Pauls Elementary Beta Club, 3rd Place, Club Trading Pin; and Alexa Scott, 4th Place, Visual Arts - Color Photography.
- Prospect Elementary: Prospect Elementary Beta Club, Club Award, Convention Growth Award; and Club Event, 3rd Place, Campaign Skit.
Junior Division Winners
- Lumberton Junior High: Ibrahim Abumohsen, 1st Place Champion, 8th Grade Academic Test - Science.
- Union Elementary: Cash Szwarc, 4th Place, 4th Grade - Language Arts; Ethan Sanderson, 1st Place Champion and Best In Show, Elementary Digital Art; and Union Elementary Beta Club, 5th Place, Elementary Apparel.
- Prospect Elementary: Riley Dial, Grand Champion (1st Place) (Golden Ticket-Premier Performer for opening ceremony at National Convention), Solo, Duo, Trio-Vocalist; Keely Deal, NC Junior Beta President; Jamison Smith, 2nd Place, Speech; Prospect Elementary Beta Club, 4th Place, Campaign Skit; and Club Award: Convention Growth Award.
High School Division
- Purnell Swett High School: Anna Hunt, Champion (1st Place) Golden Ticket / Premier Performer, Performing Arts - Vocalist; Amaya Bullard, Champion (1st Place), Visual Arts - Jewelry (Division 1); Alexis Lowry, 4th Place, Visual Arts - Mixed Media (Division 1) and 5th Place, Visual Arts - Recyclable Art (Division I).
- PSRC Early College at RCC: BetaBots Team, 4th Place, Robotics; Jaiden Morrisey, 4th Place, Poetry Division II; Jessica Perez-Rojas, 4th Place, 12th Spanish; and Kaylee Evans, 4th Place (Tied), Visual Arts-Jewelry (Division I).
- Lumberton Senior High School: Margaret Underwood, 1st Place Champion, Visual Arts - Recyclable Art (Division II); and Zain Patel, 4th Place, 10th Grade Math.
- St. Pauls High School: Junior Torres Diaz, 5th Place, 11th Grade Agriscience.
The following schools participated in the 2023 North Carolina Junior and Senior State Beta Convention: St. Pauls Elementary, Pembroke Elementary, Long Branch Elementary, Union Elementary, Magnolia Elementary School, Prospect Elementary School, Lumberton Junior High School, Deep Branch Elementary, Oxendine Elementary, Pembroke Middle, Purnell Swett, Lumberton High, St. Pauls High and PSRC Early College at RCC.
“We have made memories at this convention!” said Renee Faison, Magnolia Elementary School’s Beta Club Sponsor.
“The students bonded and got to see other achievers like them! They got to compete and see all of their hard work come together! The Power of Beta was real! I am so proud of them! Thank you to everyone that made it possible,” Faison added.