Thursday, March 28, 2024
Vienna Grade School Beta Club members pictured with their awards include, front row, from left, Emma Neilsen, Tyler Votava, Maia Hayden, Emily Smith, Payton Bennett, Christina Bynum and Ayden Rademaker. Second row, Olivia Garza, Taleah Warren, Riley Slife, Kalysta Conley, Heaven McClellan, Dawson Hill, Emily Myrick and Weston Henderson. Third Row: sponsor Peyton Smith, Maelee Sparks, sponsor Lorylee Hensley, Eliza Goines, Will Ashford, Madison Roper, Alivia Montgomery, Cooper Shanks, Karrah Harper, Lindsey Miles, Colton Ethridge, Heather Trambley, sponsor Nathan Corbit and Bailee Hill. Not pictured: Sponsor Laura Clark.

VGS Betas successful once again at state convention

The Vienna Grade School Junior Beta Club attended the 23rd Annual State Junior Beta Convention in Springfield on February 27-28.  The theme of this year’s convention was “Beta Above and Beyond.”  Twenty-six members of the club attended the two-day event.  Throughout the convention, students competed in both academic and artistic competitions and received awards in nine categories.

VGS sponsor Laura Clark served as Illinois State Sponsor organizing and running the state convention.  Cooper Shanks served as Illinois junior vice-president giving a keynote address entitled “Soaring Above and Beyond” and presiding over the Second General Session.

For the eighth consecutive year, the Vienna club ran a candidate for state office.  This year’s candidate, Maelee Sparks, was elected to the office of State Junior Beta Vice-President.  The club campaigned for her behind the “All it takes is Sparks to start a Beta fire” slogan.  A “match” was lit to start the Beta fire as our club sparked to a medley of songs about fire.   Maelee’s skit was awarded 1st place in the campaign skit competition.

VGS’ Living Literature entry received second for portraying a scene and characters from The Little Mermaid.  Bailee Hill and Cooper Shanks won second place for Club Trading Pin.  Bailee Hill got second place for her painting of The Joker.

Payton Bennett, Kalysta Conley, Karrah Harper, Heaven McClellan, Alivia Montgomery, Emily Myrick, Madison Roper, and Emily Smith won third place in wreath design.

Book battle in which a team of three students took a multiple choice test and wrote a written response to a prompt about a number of books they were asked to read ahead of time.  The team which was composed of Maia Hayden, Heaven McClellan and Ayden Rademaker won third place.

Kalysta Conley won third place for her charcoal drawing of Johnny Depp’s character in “Pirates of the Caribbean.

Madison Roper won third place for her colored pencil sketch of a girl with a camera.

The Calisthenics of the Mind team made up of Kalysta Conley, Lindsey Miles, Madison Roper and Heather Trambley also placed third for building a bridge out of straws to hold the most pennies.

The club was graciously awarded the opportunity to compete in every category they qualified in at National Junior Beta Club Convention in Orlando, Florida in June of this year.  Maelee will have the opportunity to run for national vice president as well.

In addition to the convention events, the students toured the old and new state capitals and were recognized on the Senate floor by Senator Dale Fowler.

“Thank you to everyone who supported our club fundraisers to be able to compete at the state convention,” said club sponsor Laura Clark. “We would appreciate your continued support in helping us raise the funds to attend national convention as well.”