By MICHAEL CRIMMINS
Glasgow News 1
Despite the frigid temperatures and snow showers besetting much of Kentucky and the mid-United States, Barren County students traveled to Lexington, Kentucky, for the 35th Junior Beta Convention where they won numerous awards and clinched the Junior Beta Presidency.
The Barren County Schools brought 48 students to Junior Beta
Junior Beta comprises the “largest, independent, educational youth organization” in the United States.This year we had 48 students attend the state convention. The organization focuses and emphasizes service, leadership, character and achievement.
The organization of Beta is divided into three categories, each with its own competitions including the 83rd Senior Beta Convention, the 4th Elementary Beta Convention and the two-day Junior Beta Convention.
Junior Beta consists of students in 6th, 7th, and 8th grade.
Kailynn Peterson, a student at Barren County Middle School, was named Kentucky Junior Beta President. She will serve in that position through 2025 Kentucky Junior Beta Convention. Her responsibilities include presiding over general session at the Convention and to “work closely with the State and National Sponsors in preparation of the next state convention.”
According to Katie Earls, Junior Beta Co-sponsor, the candidate “for each office gives a speech, their club performs a skit, and they answer a question in front of the audience,” after which time a 2-hour voting window opens.
In addition to Peterson’s victory, various other Barren County students placed first in their respective competitions. Delilah Harvey-Fox, from Park City, won in Jewelry, Barren County Middle Schooler Brady Cook won for 7th grade social studies and Brighton Lucas, Michael Owens and Loren Snyder won for 3-dimensional design.
North Jackson brought home fourth place in the digital portfolio category. Austin Tracy’s Bailee Bunch placed second in the digital enhanced photo competition. Barren County Middle School placed third for performing arts elementary, solo, duo, trio and variety act and North Jackson’s Micah Lucas placed second in the same category.
The middle school and Red Cross received second and fourth places respectively in the large group performing arts category. Middle schooler Sawyer Mosby got second place in poetry and Korbyn Basham of Park City placed fifth in 6th grade science.
BCMS student Emmory Shelton and Red Cross student Aubrey Blythe place second and fifth, respectively, for sculpture, while North Jackson received fourth place in Songfest. Eastern Elementary got fourth place in technology.
Bailee Bunch, Brighton Lucas, Kayla Strohecker, Liberty Phelps and Micah Lucas were chosen as Premier Performers.
Students who placed at the state level qualify to attend the National Convention on June 10-13 at the Savannah International Convention Center.
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