Beta: 1st in State, 3rd in Nation
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The Montgomery County High School Beta Club has become nationally known for their community service, as the members are currently first in the state and third in the nation for the number of community service hours logged so far for the 20232024 school year.
So far, the club has logged a collective 108 community service hours between its 68 active members. According to Montgomery County High School Beta Club Sponsors Rebecca Phillips and Keri Anderson, many of these hours are completed through participation in football field clean-ups after each home game, food drives at the high school, and the set-up and take-down of prom decorations. These are logged immediately after the community service is completed through the National Beta Club app, which allows the sponsors to give and get immediate feedback, as well as track each member’s achievements.
Each year, Beta Club members are required to turn in at least 30 hours of community service, and each month a minimum of 2 hours must be logged. Upon graduation, the Beta Club member with the highest number of continued from page
logged community service hours receives an extra accolade and recognition during the Senior Honors Awards, which inspires students to go above and beyond the required hours.
“There is no way to describe the pride that we feel knowing that our members were able to rank nationally in a category of community service all on their own,” the sponsors shared in a joint statement. “As their sponsors we can only help provide opportunities and guide them in their completion of the service hours, we cannot do it for them. This along with the fact that many, if not all, of our members are in other clubs and sports and are still able to accomplish this great feat should be inspiring. We hope that our members see how much of an impact they do have not only on their school but on their community as well.”
Montgomery County High School Principal Scott Barrow also commented on the accomplishment. 'I am very proud of our Senor Beta students and sponsors for doing things the Eagle Way, going above and beyond expectations!' he remarked.
Currently, the Beta Club is led by the sponsors, along with a collection of student officers, including Senior Ashton Thigpen – President, Senior Citlali Hernandez – Vice President, Senior Dev Patel – Service Chair, Senior Rebecca Hong – Treasurer, Junior Paris Ann Thornton – Reporter, Junior Tulsi Patel – Event Chair, Junior Max Barrow – Secretary, Sophomore Nora Cartwright – Co-Secretary, Sophomore Addyson Shepherd – Public Relations, Sophomore Haze Thigpen – Convention Chair.
The group will continue to log community service hours, making a rise in the national rank possible, as 29 hours currently separate them and the school ranked second nationally in community service hours.
'We are blessed to live in a small town where we continue to look after each other,” Superintendent Stan Rentz emphasized. “It is encouraging to see our BETA students actively involved in helping to improve and support their community. Our Beta members serve as great ambassadors for Montgomery County and we are all extremely proud of their work and recognition.'
