When you think of Beta Club, you probably think of high-caliber students volunteering with local organizations. But did you know that 29 Hoggard Beta Club students competed in a convention–and that convention had nothing to do with volunteering?
Beta Convention is a chance for Beta Club students to show off their skills, whether in writing, math, music, visual arts, dance, or… pretty much anything you can think of. “What does this have to do with volunteering?” you might ask. “I think that people think of Beta here as a volunteer club, but we really do have four pillars,” Beta Club Co-Sponsor Ainsley Kovanda commented. The pillars are leadership, service, academics and character. Mrs. Kovanda described Beta Convention as “an opportunity for kids to perform, get awards and get recognized in areas other than service.”
“Preparing for Beta Convention involved six months of intense work from our members, officers, and sponsors,” stated junior Krish Mishra. “The preparation involved fundraising, coordinating musical performances, creating art pieces, practicing speeches, and so much more.” Some students took online tests in core subjects like math and science, while others prepared for team competitions like show choir and Quiz Bowl. The students’ hard work clearly paid off, with 14 students placing high enough in their events to qualify for the National Beta Convention.
Mrs. Kovanda noted that Hoggard was one of only a few public schools to compete in the convention alongside many private schools who allocate a large amount of funding in preparation. Hoggard students rose to the challenge despite a disadvantage in funding. Hoggard Beta Club President Gracie Rogers was blown away by the talent shown by the competing students. She described Cassidy Fisher’s dance performance as “breathtaking.” “I had no idea she had that skill, and I think that’s a really cool thing about the convention. You get to be on much more of a personal level with the people who are going.”
One of Mrs. Kovanda’s biggest takeaways from the convention was learning that many students are gifted in the arts. She mentioned potentially bringing in some of Hoggard’s arts teachers such as Ms. Cross, Ms. Collins and Mr. Horrell to help students prepare for the convention in the future.
Krish Mishra strongly urged Hoggard students to consider joining Beta Club and participating in the convention. “Being a part of Hoggard Beta allows you to truly make a difference in our community while collaborating with like-minded peers.” This year Hoggard Beta Club students have already volunteered at local marathons, at elementary school fundraisers, as tutors to elementary students, and at Hoggard-specific events.
One of Gracie Rogers’ favorite Beta Club memories has been volunteering at the local Latino Festival, where she dressed up as a princess and danced with kids attending the festival. ”It was just such a fun way to touch the community. I think people think volunteering is… volunteering at a soup kitchen or volunteering at the food bank. But it can be so many different things and so many different ways you can help your community. So it was really cool seeing that side of the volunteering, which I hadn't been so involved with before.”
The National Beta Club Convention will take place this summer in Savannah, Georgia. Whether you’re considering joining Beta Club and participating in future conventions or not, join me in cheering on our talented Hoggard students as they compete for a nation-wide win!
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