JCHS Beta Club Competes at Nationals in Orlando

On June 22, 24 Jasper County High School Beta Club students left to compete at the Senior National Beta Club Convention in Orlando, Fla.

Students arrived Sunday evening, ate pizza, and then were ready to practice from show choir to robotics to speech. On Monday, reimagine, recreate, recycle competed with a paper mache manatee. That afternoon, Living Lit competed with their scene from Bram Stoker’s “Dracula.” A group also competed in Meeting of the Minds–a problem-solving competition.

Leigha Perkins entered her painting into competition, and Hollie Prentiss entered her drawing. It should be noted that in order to compete at nationals, you had to place first through fifth place at state held in Savannah in December (except for national exhibition events).

Tuesday was a huge day for competitions. Students competed in show choir, engineering, speech, and club trading pin. Show choir performed an arrangement of “Skyfall;” Alona Jackson sang a solo, and Matthew McNure, Leigha Perkins, and Hollie Prentiss sang a trio part.

On Wednesday, it was robotics time as their minecraft-themed robot “Jack Black” completed the mission of push, lift, pile.

Several groups/individuals placed nationally. The robotics team placed 8th. Leigha Perkins placed 6th with her painting. Shanae McClain placed 8th in speech.

When not competing, students made a splash at the water park at the Gaylord Palms hotel and headed to the theme parks including Universal’s Islands of Adventure where the Velocicoaster was a big hit. Also, they visited Universal Studios where students went from Harry Potter Land to The Revenge of the Mummy to Transformers.

Students who competed at the national convention—Hunter Cleveland, Carson Crotts, Andrew Cumbie, Morgan Day, Randolph Epps, Abigail Garland, Emily Hall, Alona Jackson, Isabella Lewis, Michael Lopez Lopez, Isai Lugo, Shanae McClain, Matthew McNure, Rarlie Moore, Tylin Morgan, Leigha Perkins, Tyler Pounds, Hollie Prentiss, Kayla Pulliam, Adrianna Russell, Ian Sanders, Cooper Selman, Jayden Wojcik, and Scarlett Wojdacz.

The Beta Club would like to give a huge shout out to the following convention sponsors who gave up many weekend/summer days as well as before and after school time to work with this group: Amanda Anderson, Wade Clemons, Caleb Fontaine, Christie McAlum, Bobbi Sauls.

Also, much appreciation to our bus driver Staci Rae. Additional thanks to the following who were a huge help in preparing for convention— Susan Evans, Amy Fontaine, Joneen Padgett, Amy Scroggs, Jim Strength, Rudy Tabares, Carley (Asa) Whitmire.