Pinewood inducts 45 New Beta Club Members
Jr. Beta Inductees: Front row (l to r): Sidney Fitzgerald, Emma Hodges, Elysia Coughlin, Madison Bashlor, Cassie Valosen, Christian Mixon, Braxton Brinkley; Second row (l to r): Kinsley Kirkland, Landyn Fries, Kenzie Hinson, Kailey Dean, Ava Kinlaw, Jaeley MacGregor, Meredith Massey, Elaina Sapp, Erica Wasson, Libby Kate Blocker, Mimi Parker, Ramsey Middleton; Third row (l to r): Jonathan Fries, Tucker Nobles, Ethan Stavriotis, Nic Nobles, Lane Dutton, Cooper Wilson, Jackson Morrow, Seth Dekle, Bryson Dutton; Back row (l to r): Wyatt Dasher, Emmett Daniel, Bryson Sapp, Maddox Akins, Harrison Cleary, Maddox Lewis, Tripp Green, Cade Quick, and Banks Hearn.
By: Mallory Sessions, PCA Junior
The National Beta Club is an organization for 4th through 12th grade students in the United States. Its purpose is “to promote the ideals of academic achievement, character, leadership and service among elementary and secondary school students.”
On Wednesday, September 18, Pinewood inducted 45 students into the Beta Club. Junior Beta includes grades 6th through 8th and Senior Beta is grades 9th through 12th. To be a Beta member, students must maintain a GPA of 3.0 and perform a variety of service works throughout the year. Each semester, club members participate in service projects, where they attend at least one event and donate items for two others. Activities can include things like bringing in candy for trick or treating on Halloween or going to the soup kitchen and feeding the needy.
The Beta Induction Ceremony began with a prayer by the Beta chaplain Emily Thompson. Anabelle Brannen, president for Beta, led the ceremony. She shared what Beta is, its mission, and motto, “Let Us Lead by Serving Others.” The officers then held a candle lighting ceremony where they each pledged to the responsibilities of their position. After the candle lighting, Hunter Smith accepted the challenge to uphold the rules and responsibilities of PCA’s Beta chapter on behalf of the new inductees. All new inductees then all recited the pledge for Beta to close the ceremony.
Front Row: (l to r) Hannah Rice, secretary; Emily Thompson, chaplain; Sydney Anne Strickland, co-Vice President; Anabelle Brannen, president; Back Row: (l to r) Aaron Lyons, co-Vice President; and Vivian McLendon, convention officer.
After the Beta induction concluded, Mrs. Brooke Smith did a devotion about Jesus’s conversation with the Samaritan woman at the well, an “outsider,” and his conversation with the Pharisee Nicodemus who was considered an “insider” during that time. Through both conversations, Jesus teaches us that whether we consider ourselves an insider or an outsider, our satisfaction, purpose, and fulfillment can only be found in Him.
