The 78th Annual Arkansas Senior Beta Convention, which concludes today at the Hot Springs Convention Center, drew around 3,600 students from Beta Clubs across the state -- a record attendance for the Arkansas Beta Convention, National Beta Club CEO Bobby Hart said Friday.
The convention began Friday, featuring both academic and art competitions.
Competitions are held in English, Math, Social Studies, Agriscience, Robotics, Engineering and both visual and performing arts.
During the convention, student candidates running for State Beta Club president, vice president and secretary are elected to represent Arkansas in the National Beta Club Convention.
Hart, who is from South Carolina, noted that the Arkansas Junior Beta Club Convention, which was held Thursday and concluded Friday morning at the convention center, also had a record attendance.
He said the attendance growth is a testament to students having a good experience with Beta Club, which encourages other students to have that experience, as well.
"We will continue to have more and offer competitions that allow all students to show their talents," Hart said.
Hart said the convention has been held at the convention center for the past several years and Hot Springs is a "great" community that makes the students feel welcomed, and Beta "couldn't be more pleased" with that.
"Beta is (an) academic student organization founded in 1934. Students are focused on four pillars: achievement, character, service and leadership," Hart said. "Teachers select students who reflect this ... students who are involved exemplify characteristics that enable them to be successful later on in life. They are well-rounded as part of being a leader. They have to be a good service leader, we want them to be lifelong community servants."
According to betaclub.org, the nonprofit organization's mission is to promote the ideals of academic achievement, character, service and leadership among elementary and secondary school students.
Local on 01/25/2020