By Bette Fitzgerald
CMS Beta Sponsor
Joyce Dugan, Cherokee Central Schools director of education, speaks during the Junior Beta Club induction ceremony on Friday, Nov. 18.
Thirty-six talented young men and women pledged to become Beta Club members on Friday, Nov. 18 in the Cultural Arts Center of Cherokee Central Schools – the largest group of 8th grade Beta Club inductees ever for Cherokee Middle School. They vowed to maintain their good behavior and honor roll status, while being positive role models for their peers. The ceremony opened with praises from Principal David Locklear and Director of Education, Joyce Dugan for the students’ many accomplishments and strong support from their family, the community, and teachers.
The following were inducted – Officers: President Tagan Crowe, Vice President Hunter Lambert, Secretary Stevi Sutton, Treasurer Darius Thompson, Members: Justin Buchanan, Russell Bigmeat, Kayla Bradley, BrayDe Brady, Vanessa Caldwell, EJ Carroll, Anna Cline, Fernando Garcia, Courtney George, Brent Gunter, Watson Harlan, Taylor Johnson, Jessica Lambert, Chicoah Ledford, Jalon Lossiah, Ashley Mahan, Larissa Martinez, Avery Mintz, Corey Owle, Joi Owle, Monique Paul, Chebon Postoak, Curtis Price, Silas Reed-Littlejohn, Jeremy Saunooke, Priscilla Squirrell, Levi Swearengin, Taran Swimmer, Damon Taylor, Dylan Thompson, Jaylen Welch, and Wade Wolfe.
The Swearengin Family shows off Levi’s (center) certificate and Beta Club pin.
The Beta Club members now begin preparation for the NC State Convention in Greensboro on February 7-9. Students will compete in the following categories: ART (wreath, photography, sketching, pastels, watercolors, painting, sculpture, needlepoint, cross-stitch, knitting, woodworking, jewelry, scrapbook, poster design), Club Banner, T-shirt design, ACADEMICS (poetry, spelling, speech, quiz bowl, math, science, social studies, living literature, power point presentation), and TALENT.
Any students receiving a ribbon or trophy will qualify to compete at the National Beta Club Convention in Louisville, Ken. Last year, Devyn Smith placed 1st in the state Geography Test and 1st in Oil Pastel. Along with his family, he attended the National Convention and
The Postoak family are proud of Chebon’s (center) accomplishments.
placed 3rd in the nation for his artwork. In 2008, Meshay Long and Felicia Owle won ribbons at the State Convention and at the National Convention in Orlando, Long took 1st place for her sketching and Owle took 2nd for her Oil Painting.
CMS Beta Club officials related they would like to send a special thanks to Beta families, Susan Lanier and Liddel Shannon of Gear Up, and Reba Elders of Cherokee High School for encouraging students to prepare for the convention.
