The Shield- Edition 01- 2021 : simplebooklet.com

3The ShieldFrom the CEOIt is my honor to bring greetings from the National Beta Ofce for the inaugural edition of The Shield! I am excited to see all the amazing highlights and accomplishments we will be able to share through this format and appreciate the efforts of the students, sponsors, and staff who made this possible.I would like to offer my sincere appreciation to all the students, sponsors, and administrators who have continued to make Beta a priority in your school and community, despite the difcult circumstances throughout the last year. Achievement, Character, Service, and Leadership are essential to student success and I am proud to be involved in an organization that was founded on these pillars. The Shield will allow us to showcase the individuals and groups who epitomize these qualities and allow Beta to continue to be a positive, driving force in schools and communities across this great nation and across the world.Bobby HartChief Executive OfcerNational Beta Club“Achievement, Character, Service, and Leadership are essential to student success”LEARN MORE AND REGISTER HEREAS THEY COMPETE (VIRTUALLY & IN-PERSON), LEADAND LEARN AT ONE OF THE MOST DYNAMIC BETA EVENTSIN EACH CONVENTION STATE! see yor Betas at heir bst&Pt yor Betas o he est

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4Fall 2021BETA BUILDINGS,BUILDING BETADid you know that our Founder, John W. Harris, drew much of the inspiration for National Beta from his Alma Mater and subsequent place of employment, Wofford College, located in the heart of Spartanburg? Beta’s infamous black and gold harkens the colors of the institution where he implemented his grandest idea; a way to recognize students for their success both inside and outside of the classroom. And the dog...well, the Wofford Terriers (distant relative), of course! Now if we could just talk our CEO into a real office dog, we’d be set!From the former residence of Dr. John W. Harris (situated right down the street from our current building and straight across from Wofford College) to 151 Beta Club Way, Beta has found ways to adapt and grow into the international non-profit we are today- including extra building space. After all, the 29 individuals who keep Beta running need room to create all of the magic that is Beta, including every Convention, Leadership Summit, award, scholarship, sponsor, member, piece of merchandise, communication, app, website, registration, membership box, and letter (we could go on, but you get the picture). It’s often assumed that National Beta is headquartered in Washington or Chicago, or some large hub staffed with hundreds of employees. While this sounds dreamy, there’s no place like home in Spartanburg with our small family of associates who work hard and wear many hats to make everything happen for the schools, sponsors, and students we care about so deeply. We truly wouldn’t have it any other way!The sun shines splendidly through the vast wall of windows on the 1974 brick building sitting serendipitously on the corner of Beta Club Way and S. Spring Street. Nestled within the Hampton Heights Historic District of Spartanburg, SC, 151 Beta Club Way houses the past, present, and future of National Beta: along with a guy in a… dog suit?

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5The ShieldWE BUILD OUR BUILDINGS, AND AFTERWARDS OUR BUILDINGS SHAPE US.WINSTON CHURCHILL BACK IN BETA TIMEFor Beta’s 50th Anniversary, an article was published in the Beta Journal about the history of the National Beta Office buildings and the details and information about the buildings themselves. Click on the photo to the left to read the original article and enjoy going back in Beta time!NATIONAL BETA’S WAREHOUSEBuilt in 2017, the warehouse is the home of the Beta Shop and shipping department.The residence of Dr. John W. Harris, and initial headquarters of National Beta.While Beta has since moved into a larger space, Dr. Harris’ original home is still playing host to another wonderful 501 (c)(3) nonprofit who works to make incredible impacts on individuals and families throughout Spartanburg and transforms the lives of its constituents on a daily basis.HOME SWEET BETA

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6Fall 2021AWARDSBETA BY NUMBERSScholarship Winner Ju-Woo Nho (Louisiana) accepts $8,000 scholarship check at National Convention in June 2021.ALARFLGAHUILINKYLAMO117132815735248MSNCOHOKPASCTNTXVAWV102653119171795SCHOLARSHIPRECIPIENTSTotal Recipients:251How many awards aregiven out each year?All Star: 39MVP: 13Grand Slam: 21Scholarship: 252John W. Harris: 10School of Distinction: 1,191School of Merit: 2,441Total Awards Given: Approx. 19,064District of Distinction: 24 Social Media Award: 8Educator of Excellence: 59Alumni Summer Leadership Scholarship: 4Convention: around 15,000TOP 3 BESTSELLINGTRADING PINS FROM NATIONALS2020-2021A. 1,007B. 5,202C. 3,875D. 933HOW MANY TRADING PINS WERE SOLD AT NATIONALS?How many plaquesdoes our productiondepartment make each year?A. 15,64B. 13,46C. 20,00D. 9,444

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7The ShieldNATIONAL STAFFHow many trading pins were sold at Nationals? B. 5,202. How many plaques does our production department make? A. 15,640. MEMBERSHIP# OF MEMBERSSTATE GA SC NC TN LA AL KY MS FL AR TOP 10Membership States2020-202180,00090,00040,00070,00030,00060,00020,00050,00010,000HOW MANY PETS DO YOU HAVE? HOW MANY CUPS OF COFFEE ARE CONSUMED DURING CONVENTION SEASON BY EACH STAFF MEMBER PER DAY?ARE YOU RIGHT-HANDED OR LEFT-HANDED?FAVORITE SEASON? 01234 5+ 0 123More than a pot4.6% 18.1%4.6% 13.6% 18.1% 45.5%22.7% 4.6% 4.6% 36.4% 27.2%95.4% Righties4.6% Lefties 59.1% Fall13.6% Spring13.6% Winter9.1% Summer 4.6% No preferenceThe Staffsays that Matt, Director of Production, drinks the most coffee, an average of 6 cups a day!

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9The ShieldHow has Beta helped you grow?Beta has been a large driving factor in the development of my condence and leadership abilities. Beta pushed me out of my comfort zone more times than I can count. I will undoubtedly continue to rely upon and reect on my experiences and achievements in Beta as I attend college and beyond.What advice would you give to other Betas desiring to run as an ofcer/representative?Go for it!! Be outgoing and most importantly be YOURSELF!How has Beta helped you grow?Beta has allowed me to grow in condence, step out and try new things, as well as discover new thingsabout myself.Why did you run for this position?I love BETA. Running for State President was something that I knew I wanted to do after my 1st ever Beta convention. I loved the atmosphere, and I wanted the experience of doing a speech onstage and leading other Betas across the State. Winning state fueled my re of wanting to run at Nationals also.Why did you run for this position?I ran for this position for two primary reasons. One, I wanted to prove that someone from a small, rural town could have a voice within a nationally recognized club. Secondly, from 9th grade, Beta has been incredibly impactful in my life. It’s a place where teens are granted the ability to do things some adults never get the chance to. It’s a place where we can be uniquely us, competing and expressing in a boundary-pushing community of support and passion.What advice would you give to other Betas desiring to run as an ofcer/representative?Before you run, make sure you’re doing it for the right reasons. Some really wonderful things are happening at the national level regarding ofcer duties. These developments give an ofcer the ability to have greater impact, but it also holds them to a higher standard. However, if you want it for the right reasons and adhere to the pillars of achievement, character, leadership, and service, I say go for it!Christian MartinezAlabama Senior Vice PresidentAthens Bible SchoolAmaria BowieMississippi Leadership RepresentativeSTEAM AcademyDanica StephensKentucky Elementary PresidentRed Cross ElementaryWord fromYOUR LEADERS

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10Fall 2021SERVICESTATISTICSLOUISIANA’S SULPHUR HIGH SCHOOL BETA CLUB COLLABORATED WITH THEIR TV PRODUCTION CLASS TO SHOW HOW BETA TEACHES “LESSONS BEYOND THE CLASSROOM.” THE WINNING VIDEO WAS ENTERED IN THE LOUISIANA SCHOOL BOARDS ASSOCIATION COMPETITION SNAGGING FIRST-PLACE AND A $5000 PRIZE SPLIT BETWEEN THE TWO GROUPS.You walk up to an order window wearing that brand new Beta tee you just bought. The person at the window says, “what’s that on your shirt?” (Promise this isn’t a dad joke.) You explain to them what the superb-looking shield represents. And then…that phrase we’ve all heard a time or two- “ohh Beta. You mean the club for smart kids?!” Insert (facepalm emoji). Well, yeah. Beta members are smart. But they’re also charismatic, thoughtful, insightful, forward-thinking, talented, giving, loyal, and willing to go above and beyond. They are leaders in their schools and communities. They are thinkers, creators, doers. They are so much more than the smart kids participating in a school club. They take all of their best qualities and apply them in big ways outside of the classroom. They share their talents, both individually and united, to make the world around them a better place.Service Hours 2020-2021 472,037 hours$420,271 raised for various organizations and charities in 2020-2021SERVICETHE CLASSROOMLESSONS BEYOND

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11The Shield“Since our schools cannot have visitors, a traditional Read Across America Week with guest speakers visiting elementary school classrooms just wasn’t feasible due to Covid-restrictions. Nevertheless, our high school Beta members remember the fun they had years ago and decided to record themselves reading themed children’s books to share with classrooms across our district. Students of all ages really enjoyed the project, and our club is already looking forward to next year and new opportunities to make this service project even more exciting.” -Stephanie Esters, SponsorBarren County High School;Glasgow, KentuckyService With a SmileSchools across the country complete hundreds of thousands of service hour projects every year (472,037 hours last year alone if we’re counting) …and those are just the ones that are shared with us! They hold food drives, create goodie bags for nursing homes and hospitals, walk shelter dogs, clean and beautify shared spaces, and leave a path of positivity and encouragement behind them!Due to social distancing and location constraints, this year has made it increasingly challenging to find ways to make an impact on the community. But, schools like Sam Houston High School in Lake Charles, LA and Harrells Christian Academy in Harrells, NC found ways to be involved with service projects by helping school custodial staff clean windows and lockers, and holding events like “Puzzles, Peppermints & Prayers” to package bags and cards for a local senior living facility. Scotland Early College High School in Laurinburg, NC held a blood drive with the American Red Cross to collect a total of 56 units of blood capable of saving 168 lives! Southwestern Elementary in Patriot, OH collected hundreds of new mother and infant items to donate to the local Hospital OB Floor. Many schools collected supplies for hurricane ravaged areas of the country while some focused on the direct needs of their student population by creating “Blessing Closets” like Aiken High School in SC and “The Lions’ Den” at Dresden Middle School in TN.The hearts of service within Beta members around the world are astounding and tend to create a snowball effect throughout their schools and communities. As always, we are BETA TOGETHER!

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12Fall 2021SCHOLARSHIPPROGRAMEACH YEAR, WE AWARD OVER $300,000 IN SCHOLARSHIPS TO 12TH GRADE BETA MEMBERSOUR TOP AWARDS:$20,000$15,000$10,000$8,000$6,000PLUS! 245 $1,000 scholarshipsAPPLICATION OPENS:November 1, 2021APPLICATION CLOSES:January 20, 2022VISIT SCHOLARSHIP.BETACLUB.ORGMarch 7-11 Clubs across the country and beyond will celebrate Beta Week. This week is designated to acknowledge the contribution our long-standing organization has had on the lives of young people across the country. Be on the lookout for the Beta Week Guide on our website and social!BETA WEEK: Save the Date

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13The ShieldWE GET BY WITH A LITTLE HELP FROM ALUMNIBeta Alumni, Benjamin Adkinson, served as a teen coach for the newly formed robotics team at his elementary school, L.P. Miles Elementary, volunteering over 40 hours of his time. He sought innovative ways to work around the global pandemic, that prohibited many teams from even competing this season, to serve as captain of his own team. His leadership skills were in full bloom as he set up his own virtual classrooms on Zoom to help these beginners compete in the First Lego League Competition. Benjamin also worked in outdoor classroom settings and in small, controlled, in-door settings to teach coding and to supervise the robot build. He convinced other Beta Alums, Ali Patino and KeMya Crumbley, to join him in this give-back eort.The 9 students of the 11-member elementary team, called MilesPOWer, is made up of Beta Club members, who all demonstrated character, leadership, academic excellence, and service during the FIRST season. For their FIRST Innovation Project, Ewon Parks created an APP, milescommunitypark.com to make the surrounding community aware of events that will be oered at the planned community school park. The team’s goal is to get people in their community moving due to the fact that too many residents are plagued with high blood pressure and diabetes. They interviewed Park Pride and Public Land Trust sta and discovered more about the planned Miles Community School Park. On Zoom, they shared information with the team and then created the Miles Moves: Hour of POWer event series.None of this would have happened had it not been for the driving force and optimism of Benjamin Adkinson. He believed that his club could beat the odds. His eorts were greatly rewarded. After winning FLL Regional Awards, his own team #3091 and the MilesPOWer are competing in the GA INTERESTED IN JOINING THE ALUMNI ASSOCIATION?MORE INFORMATIONREGISTER NOWbetaclub.org/alumniFACEBOOK@nationalbetaalumniINSTAGRAM@betaalumniTWITTER@betaalumniEMAILalumni@betaclub.orgFLL State Championship. Atlanta City Council President, Felicia Moore, is so proud of the MilesPOWer Robotics Team that she will be presenting the team and coaches with a City of Atlanta Proclamation. BETA POWER! As a side note, the Miles BETA Club’s keynote speaker was the new Atlanta Public Schools Superintendent, Dr. Lisa Herring, who spoke at their virtual Induction Ceremony. Dr. Herring is also a Beta alum who served as a regional president and many other oces during her time with Beta. She still relishes the moments and loves sharing those experiences with others. Also, the Miles team mentored the newly revived Emma Hutchinson BETA Club this past January. BETA passing it on! Pamela-Faith Jackson Sponsor - L.P. Miles ElementaryDID YOU KNOW?There are 870National BetaAlumni Associationmembers!

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14Fall 2021APPRECIATION WEEKSPONSORYour Beta Sponsor… picture their face. Try to imagine sitting in Maybe coffee is the only thing that keeps them going or they carry around a gallon jug of water to meet their daily intake goals. Maybe they wear the same pair of shoes every single day, or maybe you never see them wear the same pair twice (shoes always it). Perhaps they’re incredibly creative or maybe they leave that up to the art teacher.No matter the Sponsor (or their quirks), they go above and beyond to make Beta possible at your school. This Sponsor Appreciation Week, find a way (as unique as them) to show them how much their hard work means to you! Without them, there would be no Beta. This Sponsor Appreciation Week, find a way (as unique as them) to show them how much their hard work means to you. Without them, there would be no Beta. (For ideas and materials, click the Sponsor Appreciation Week banner in the center of the page.)SPONSOR HIGHLIGHT“This is our school’s Beta Sponsor, Kody Walters. I cannot describe the time and effort that he puts into Beta Club. While on top of Beta, he also is an amazing High-School English teacher. He has so much on his hands, but somehow manages to make everything work out with his dedication and commitment. He puts his time, money, and effort into Beta Club, and I think he deserves major recognition for everything he does for our group. Thank you Mr. Walters! <3, CASC Beta Club”- Naomi Bridges; Cyber Academy of SCfront of them at your Beta meeting.That Sponsor you have is probably a teacher, admin, coach, or counselor. They may have a family. Possibly some pets. More than likely, a full plate of responsibilities outside of the stacks and stacks of to-do lists at school. They might have another job or serve within other positions for additional programs in the community. Maybe they have insane hobbies like cliff-gliding or deep-sea-diving. Perhaps they prefer the subtler things in life like gardening and brisk walks around the neighborhood. DID YOU KNOW?As of September2021, there are 18,945 National Betasponsors!

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15The ShieldAPPRECIATION WEEKSPONSORSPONSOR HIGHLIGHTSPONSOR [NOUN]SPON· SOR | \ ‘SPÄN-SER1: A PERSON WHO TAKES THE RESPONSIBILITY FOR SOME OTHER PERSON OR THINGState Sponsors from across the nation gathered together in Spartanburg, SC for training and camaraderie. They shared ideas, concerns, excitement and information about the coming year and took over the Beta ofces for the afternoon. They discussed what was and wasn’t working throughout their state and how they plan to continue to aid in the growth and esteem ofNational Beta.State sponsors are valued volunteers to the Beta organization. They dedicate their time and energy into coordinating and executing their respective state conventions. They’re our “boots on the ground” and relay important information from the National Ofce to their fellow sponsors throughout their state.STATE SPONSORS“Ms. Fong has been an exemplary sponsor and has contributed immensely to the establish-ment of Claremont High School National Beta Club. Ms. Fong is the most optimistic teacher a student could ever have and the advice she gives is ‘out of the world’!!! It is a privilege to have Ms. Fong as the Sponsor of our club and the members of our club hope one day to be just like you! Be a Beta | Be a Leader” - Joseph Santhosh; Clermont High School, CA

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16Fall 2021BETA AROUND WORLD Submitted by: Grace ProbstBridgeway Academy; ALThis picture is taken in Russia in front of Moscow State University, named after Michael Lomonosov. I love the architecture!What is Beta Aroundthe World?Started by a Beta in Kentucky, Beta Around the World is an initiative to send our Beta shield around the globe. This project provides an opportunity for Betas to make connections with individuals in new areas, while showing theirBeta pride.Beta Around the World challenges Betas to obtain photos and selﬁes of people holding the Beta shield anywhere and everywhere their adventures take them.The Eiel Tower, Egyptian pyramids, Hollywood sign, and more! Down the street or across the world. Reach out to family, friends, or strangers to ask for help. One club obtained a photo of a chef in Antarctica! Let’s see just how far can Beta go.Submitted by: Suzi BroomWest Jones Middle School; MSBeta Alumnus and current University of Alabama cheerleader, Kate Broom, holding the Beta shield outside Bryant-Denny Stadium in Tuscaloosa, AL.‘Bama Beta!Gretna Elementary School submitted this photo all the way from Germany!Betas Salute You!Take Your Time! No Need to be Russian AroundTHE

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17The ShieldWe can’t believe our eyes! That’s our Beta Shield in Antarctica! Yes, you read that correctly! ANTARCTICA! Drew is an Executive Sous Chef for the US Antarctic Program. He ventured out to take a picture where the low temperature was -50 below zero!! Over 8000 miles away!Polar PlungeSubmitted by: Grace ProbstBridgeway Academy; ALMy friends in Alaska took this fun picture for us! They found the most colorful sign, that is for sure!Cool Like BetaSubmitted by: Suzi BroomWest Jones Middle School; MSPhoto was taken with the Beta Shield in the Olive Groves in Andalusia, Espana (Spain) November 2020Olive Beta! Do you love Beta? Betas Keep a Positive AltitudeSubmitted by: Logan MinamiGeorgia Connections Academy; GAThis is one of my dad’s friends. His name is Yuki Sato. He lives near Mt. Fuji In Japan. This is a picture of him with Mt. Fuji in the background.You Odyssey this Beta!Submitted by: John JonesPortsmouth West High School; OHPicture was taken in front of the Greek Parthenon, a bank, temple, and fortress that sits upon the Acropolis.

The Shield- Edition 01- 2021

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