Members of the Highland Elementary Beta group are pictured. Photo courtesy of Amy Morgan.
by MICHAEL CRIMMINS
Glasgow News 1
Nineteen students from Highland Elementary, along with four sponsors and a retinue of parents and grandparents, returned to Glasgow on Friday, after winning several awards with one student winning the title of National Beta President.
According to Amy Morgan, one of Highland’s Beta sponsors, three Premier Performers from Highland were selected at the state convention to perform at nationals. Leigha Jones and Linley Richardson were selected as Premier Performer Vocalists. In addition, Exie Shannon was a Premier Performer dancer.
Also, among the school’s many awards, Joe Harper, a fifth grader at Highland, was named as the National Beta President. With this victory, Harper will serve as president for the full year and preside over both the state and national Beta conventions.
“[It’s a] lot of responsibility you have to take up,” Harper said.
According to Harper, he was asked to consider running by two of his sponsors and through the inspiration of one of his close friends, who is a former Beta president.
“It took some courage to accept it but eventually I did,” Harper said.
Under the slogan “Not your average Joe,” Harper gave his speech first at the state convention in front of 1,000 people then at nationals where 5,000 people heard him deliver his speech, written by Ruth Ann Davis, mother of Harper’s good friend. Despite the large crowds, Harper said he was not fazed by speaking in public.
“It comes naturally to me,” Harper said. “I’m kind of weird, I hate eye-to-eye conversations but I can speak in front of large crowds.”
Harper said he is overwhelmed at the level of trust the convention goers put in him when they elected him president and hopes to live up to their expectations.
“I was happy, excited and kind of nervous,” Harper said. “Like, ‘oh gosh they trusted me enough, what if I fail?’ but I’m just going to trust my gut and go with it.”
“It’s truly an honor they trust me enough,” Harper added.
The 19 students in total finished in the Top 10 in 14 categories.
Top 10 award winners include:
10th place – technology – Jayden Estes.
10th place – 3D design – Linley Richardson.
7th place – drawing – Aaron Camarena.
6th place – portfolio – Wyatt Morgan, Linley Richardson, Ava Wall, Kaleb Stockton, Jayden Estes and Ramiro Sanchez.
6th place – jewelry – Elly Rose Shoffner.
4th place – poetry – Piper Eicher.
4th place – speech – Piper Eicher.
3rd place – project proposal – Camdyn Waggoner, Kaiden Henson, Kaden Carter, Grace Davis and Aaron Wilson.
2nd place – hand drawn Anime – Aaron Camarena.
2nd place – reimagine, recreate, recycle – Wyatt Morgan, Tucker Garrett, Piper Eicher and Fisher Allen.
2nd place – spelling bee – Cooper Davis.
2nd place – convention invention – Piper Eicher and Wyatt Morgan.
2nd place – campaign skit – Tucker Garrett, Leigha Jones, Piper Eicher, Linley Richardson, Heavenly Elmore, Wyatt Morgan, Camdyn Waggoner, Kaden Carter, Kaiden Henson, Lillian York, Grace Davis, Aaron Wilson, Fisher Allen, Cooper Davis and Kaleb Stockton.
1st place – fiber arts – Wyatt Morgan.
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