{{Short description|International honor society for primary and secondary students}} {{Infobox fraternity | name = National Beta Club | crest = The_crest_of_the_National_Beta_Club.png | image_size = 150px | founded = {{start date and age|1934}} | birthplace = Spartanburg, SC | affiliation = Independent | type = Honor society | status = Active | scope = International | emphasis = Elementary and secondary school students | slogan = | lifetime = 7,000,000+ | members = 458,116 | nickname = Beta Club, Beta | chapters = 9,600 | motto = "Let Us Lead By Serving Others" | pillars = Academic Achievement, Character, Leadership, Service | mascot = J.W. the Boston Terrier | colors = {{color box|#000000}} Black and {{color box|#FFD700}} Gold | member badge = 60px | address = 151 Beta Club Way | city = Spartanburg | state = South Carolina | postal code = 29306 | country = United States | website = {{URL|www.betaclub.org}} }} The '''National Beta Club''' (often called "'''Beta Club'''" or simply "'''Beta'''") is an International honor society for 4th through 12th-grade students. Its purpose is to promote academic achievement, character, leadership, and service among elementary and secondary school students. The National Beta Club is the largest independent educational society for youths in the United States. Headquartered in Spartanburg, South Carolina, the organization has more than 9,600 clubs nationally and more than 450,000 active members.
==History == Dr. John W. Harris, a Wofford College professor, founded the National Honorary Beta Club as a co-educational high school academic honors program.<ref name=":6">{{Cite web |last=Lawrence Sr. |first=James Walton |title=National Beta Club |url=https://www.scencyclopedia.org/sce/entries/national-beta-club/ |access-date=2024-09-02 |website=South Carolina Encyclopedia |publisher=University of South Carolina, Institute for Southern Studies |language=en-US}}</ref> His idea was to create an organization like Phi Beta Kappa, Kiwanis, and Rotary for high school students.<ref name=":6" /> With the permission of principals and superintendents, Harris presented his plan to local high school literary societies and their sponsors.<ref name=":6" /> Its charter members were twelve students were initiated in December 1932 at Clover High School in Clover, South Carolina.<ref name=":10">{{Cite news |date=1932-12-10 |title=Honorary Beta Club is Formed in Clover High |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-herald-honorary-bet-club-is-formed-i/154517180/ |access-date=2024-09-02 |work=The Herald |location=Rock Hill, South Carolina |pages=3 |via=Newspapers.com}}</ref>
Its charter members included:<ref name=":10" /> {{columns-list|colwidth=12em| * Robert Earle Caldwell * Mary Davis * Lois Howell * Joe Jackson * Agnes Jordan * Edd Moore * Mary Riddle * Tom Riddle * Nelle Thomasson * Martha Winget }}
The National Honorary Beta Club was registered in Kentucky by J. F. Drake, B.B. Green, and W. B. Storker on December 15, 1932.<ref>{{Cite news |date=1932-12-16 |title=Kentucky Chapters |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-cincinnati-enquirer-kentucky-chapter/154518258/ |access-date=2024-09-02 |work=The Cincinnati Enquirer |pages=18 |via=Newspapers.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=1932-12-16 |title=Capital Gossip |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-state-journal-capital-gossip/154518506/ |access-date=2024-09-02 |work=The State Journal |location=Frankfort, Kentucky |pages=4 |via=Newspapers.com}}</ref> The purpose of the organization was "the maintenancee of a high standard of scholarship in the classroom and installing the ideals of loyalty, courage, leadership, honesty, and integrity in the high school students."<ref name=":11">{{Cite news |date=1934-02-20 |title=Simpsonville Debating Club Will Enter State Contests |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-greenville-news-simpsonville-debatin/154518888/ |access-date=2024-09-02 |work=The Greenville News |pages=6 |via=Newspapers.com}}</ref>
The first Beta Club chapter was established at Landrum High School in Landrum, South Carolina on January 8, 1934, by incorporating the fifteen members of the pre-existing Landrum High School Literary Society.<ref name=":6" /> The club's sponsor was teacher Helen Prince.<ref name=":6" /> Other clubs established in South Carolina in 1934 include Simpsonville High School in February; Duncan High School in October; Ellen Woodside School, Elloree High School, Greer High School, Hickory Grove High School, Walhalla High School, and Woodruff High School in November; and Brookland-Cayce High School, Paris School, and Summerton High School in December.<ref name=":11" /><ref>{{Cite news |date=1934-10-30 |title=Duncan High to See Magic Show |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-greenville-news-duncan-high-to-see-m/154519953/ |access-date=2024-09-02 |work=The Greenville News |pages=6 |via=Newspapers.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=1934-11-04 |title=Initiate Members into Honorary Club |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-greenville-news-initiate-members-int/154520471/ |access-date=2024-09-02 |work=The Greenville News |pages=12 |via=Newspapers.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=1934-11-13 |title=Ellen Woodside School Fair Drew Large and Appreciative Groups |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-greenville-news-ellen-woodside-schoo/154521034/ |access-date=2024-09-02 |work=The Greenville News |pages=6 |via=Newspapers.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=1934-11-16 |title=Invited to Join National 'Frat' |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-greenville-news-invited-to-join-nati/154521274/ |access-date=2024-09-02 |work=The Greenville News |pages=5 |via=Newspapers.com}}</ref><ref name=":12">{{Cite news |date=1934-11-23 |title=Walhalla High Has Honorary Beta Club |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-greenville-news-walhalla-high-has-ho/154521533/ |access-date=2024-09-02 |work=The Greenville News |pages=7 |via=Newspapers.com}}</ref><ref name=":13">{{Cite news |date=1934-11-24 |title=Elloree Students Organize Fraternity |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-times-and-democrat-elloree-students/154521963/ |access-date=2024-09-02 |work=The Times and Democrat |location=Orangeburg, South Carolina |pages=1 |via=Newspapers.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=1934-11-27 |title=Start Beta Club at Hickory Grove |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-herald-start-beta-club-at-hickory-gr/154522459/ |access-date=2024-09-02 |work=The Herald |location=Rock Hill, South Carolina |pages=3 |via=Newspapers.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=1934-12-01 |title=Summerton High to Get Honor Club |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-state-summerton-high-to-get-honor-cl/154522646/ |access-date=2024-09-02 |work=The State |location=Columbia, South Carolina |pages=12 |via=Newspapers.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=1934-12-10 |title=B-C Students Organize Club for Scholarship |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-columbia-record-b-c-students-organiz/154523374/ |access-date=2024-09-02 |work=The Columbia Record |pages=12 |via=Newspapers.com}}</ref><ref name=":14">{{Cite news |date=1934-12-11 |title=Paris School Institutes Chapter of National Honorary Beta Club |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-greenville-news-paris-school-institu/154523615/ |access-date=2024-09-02 |work=The Greenville News |pages=6 |via=Newspapers.com}}</ref>
Clubs were also established at China Grove High School, the Lewisville High School, and the Woodleaf High School in North Carolina in October 1934, followed by Cary High School and Granite Quarry High School in December 1934.<ref>{{Cite news |date=1934-10-21 |title=National Beta Club Formed at Chna Grove High |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-salisbury-post-national-beta-club-fo/154519447/ |access-date=2024-09-02 |work=The Salisbury Post |pages=2 |via=Newspapers.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=1934-10-26 |title=Salisbury Route 1 |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-salisbury-post-salisbury-route-1/154519703/ |access-date=2024-09-02 |work=The Salisbury Post |pages=9 |via=Newspapers.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=1934-10-31 |title=Lewisville Club Selects Leaders |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/winston-salem-journal-lewisville-club-se/154520219/ |access-date=2024-09-02 |work=Winston-Salem Journal |pages=4 |via=Newspapers.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=1934-12-02 |title=National Society at Granite Quarry |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-salisbury-post-natonal-society-at-gr/154522882/ |access-date=2024-09-02 |work=The Salisbury Post |pages=2 |via=Newspapers.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=1934-12-12 |title=Chaptere of Beta Club Formed in Cary School |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-news-and-observer-chaptere-of-beta-c/154523998/ |access-date=2024-09-02 |work=The News and Observer |location=Raleigh, North Carolina |pages=[https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-news-and-observer-chaptere-of-beta-c/154523998/ 10], [https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-news-and-observer-chapter-of-beta-cl/154524230/ 10]|via=Newspapers.com}}</ref> The first club in Georgia was formed at Royston High School in November 1934.<ref>{{Cite news |date=1934-11-11 |title=Beta Club Planned |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-atlanta-constitution-beta-club-plann/154520722/ |access-date=2024-09-02 |work=The Atlanta Constitution |pages=9 |via=Newspapers.com}}</ref> Each club had a teacher who serves as its sponsor.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |title=Students |url=https://www.betaclub.org/students/ |access-date=2024-09-02 |website=National Beta Club |language=en-US}}</ref> Members recruited from the junior and senior classes for outstanding scholarship and good character.<ref name=":13" /><ref name=":14" />
The National Beta Club held its first convention in May 1934 in Spartanburg, South Carolina.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=About |url=https://www.betaclub.org/about/ |access-date=2024-09-02 |website=National Beta Club |language=en-US}}</ref> Its student magazine, ''The Beta Journal'', was established in September 1934.<ref name=":7">{{Cite web |date= |title=History |url=http://alumni.betaclub.org/node/1 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110725073014/http://alumni.betaclub.org/node/1 |archive-date=2011-07-25 |access-date=2024-09-02 |website=Beta Alumni |via=web.archive.org}}</ref> There were 75 clubs in four states by the end of 1935.<ref name=":7" /> [[File:The Laurel (1949) - DPLA - 31ab7bdc83ff87a04c844ebf856e5ed0 (page 108).jpg|thumb|right|250px|Beta Club at Millbrook High School in Raleigh, North Carolina in 1949.]] The Beta Club established a loan program that helped 1,500 members attend college before replacing the program with scholarships.<ref name=":6" /> In 1961, the Junior Beta Club was formed for middle school students.<ref name=":6" /> The first Junior Beta Club was established at Millsap Elementary in Millsap, Texas in August 1961.<ref name=":0" />
The Beta Club held its first national convention in June 1981 in Orlando, Florida.<ref name=":0" /> It celebrated Founder's Day for the first time on October 27, 2017.<ref name=":0" /> The Elementary Beta division was launched in 2023.<ref name=":0" />
As of the 2023–2023 academic year, there were 509,515 active members in the Senior and Junior divisions and over 7 million alumni.<ref name=":2">{{Cite web |date=2024-08-12 |title=Home |url=https://www.betaclub.org/ |access-date=2024-09-02 |website=National Beta Club |language=en-US}}</ref> The National Beta Club is the largest independent educational society for youths in the United States.<ref name=":0" /> Its headquarters are located at 151 Beta Club Way in Spartanburg, South Carolina.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Contact |url=https://www.betaclub.org/contact/ |access-date=2024-09-02 |website=National Beta Club |language=en-US}}</ref>
==Symbols== Harris selected the name Beta Club because high achievers earned A or B grades; ''Beta'' was the Greek letter for B.<ref name=":6" /> The Beta Club's original motto was "We Lead, Others Follow.<ref name=":12" /> This was replaced in 1942, with "Let Us Lead By Serving Others."<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":2" /> Its pillars are Academic Achievement, Character, Leadership, and Service.<ref name=":0" /> Its colors are black and gold.<ref name=":15">{{Cite news |date=1974-12-15 |title=26 Members Inducted in Early Beta Club |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/brownwood-bulletin-26-members-inducated/154524908/ |access-date=2024-09-02 |work=Brownwood Bulletin |pages=31 |via=Newspapers.com}}</ref><ref name=":16">{{Cite news |last=Humphrey |first=Brooke |date=1998-04-04 |title=Honor Student at Berea Get Kudos |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-greenville-news/154525141/ |access-date=2024-09-02 |work=The Greenville News |pages=37}}</ref>
The member induction ceremony uses five colored candles: red, white, and blue to symbolize the United States and Beta's colors of black and gold.<ref name=":15" /><ref name=":16" />
In 2016, Beta Club introduced J.W. the Boston Terrier, its mascot named after the honor society's founder.<ref name=":0" /> Its publication is ''The Beta Journal.<ref name=":7" /><ref name=":6" />''
==Membership== The National Beta Club has three membership divisions:<ref name=":1" />
* Elementary Beta – Grades 4 and 5 * Junior – Grades 6 through 8 * Senior – Grades 9 through 12
Traditionally, students are awarded membership based on their grades (GPA), or test scores and character traits. Each school chooses what items they will look at for their chapter's member qualifications.<ref name=":1" />
==Activities== Annually, the National Beta Club awards over $300,000 in scholarships to more than 250 twelfth-grade Senior Beta Members.<ref name=":3">{{Cite web |title=Engage |url=https://www.betaclub.org/engage/ |access-date=2024-09-02 |website=National Beta Club |language=en-US}}</ref> The scholarship are supported in part by donations from corporations and philanthropists.<ref name=":6" /> It also present various awards to clubs, alumni, and sponsors.<ref name=":3" /> At the local level, clubs participate in community service and celebrate National Beta Week and Founders Day.<ref name=":3" />
The Beta Club hosts national conventions each summer for the Elementary, Junior, and Senior levels.<ref>{{Cite web |title=National Convention |url=https://www.betaclub.org/national-convention/ |access-date=2024-09-02 |website=National Beta Club |language=en-US}}</ref> State conventions are held for member and sponsors in eighteen states.<ref name=":6" /><ref name=":4">{{Cite web |title=State Conventions |url=https://www.betaclub.org/state-conventions/ |access-date=2024-09-02 |website=National Beta Club |language=en-US}}</ref> At the conventions, members participate in various academic and talent competitions, including academic tests, performing arts, S.T.E.M. competitions, and visual arts.<ref name=":4" />
==Chapters== As of 2005, the National Beta Club has clubs or chapters across the United States and in The Bahamas, Germany, Guam, Puerto Rico, Russia, and the Virgin Islands.<ref name=":6" /> In 2024, it had chartered 9,600 clubs in the United States and internationally.<ref name=":8">{{Cite web |last= |first= |title=Beta Club {{!}} Student Life |url=https://www.moundsps.com/619960_3 |access-date=2024-09-02 |website=Mounds Public Schools |language=English}}</ref>
==Notable members== *Evelyn Ammons, Arkansas House of Representatives<ref>{{Cite web |last=Smith |first=Lindsley Armstrong |last2=Smith |first2=Stephen A. |date=August 26, 2021 |title=Evelyn Ammons (1937–2017) |url=https://encyclopediaofarkansas.net/entries/evelyn-ammons-15301/ |access-date=2024-09-02 |website=Encyclopedia of Arkansas |language=en-US}}</ref> *Laphonza Butler, United States Senate<ref>{{Cite news |date=1997-04-18 |title=Butler gets Beta Club scholarship |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/enterprise-journal-butler-gets-beta-club/132770662/ |access-date=2024-09-02 |work=Enterprise-Journal |location=McComb, Mississippi · |pages=4 |via=Newspapers.com}}</ref> *Bill Clinton, 42nd President of the United States<ref name=":6" /><ref>{{Cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AUvBAJ4n9ts |title=Former President Bill Clinton {{!}} Alumni Feature |date=2013-04-18 |last=BetaClubSpotlight |access-date=2024-09-02 |via=YouTube}}</ref> *Javaris Crittenton, professional basketball player<ref>{{Cite web |date=2019-03-28 |title=Javaris Crittenton |url=https://ramblinwreck.com/roster/javaris-crittenton/ |access-date=2024-09-02 |website=Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets |language=en-US}}</ref> *Jake Delhomme, professional football athlete<ref name=":6" /> *Ericka Dunlap, Miss America 2004<ref name=":6" /> *Kevin Durant, professional basketball player, actor<ref name=":5">{{Cite web |title=Jr. Beta Club |url=https://www.waltoncounty.esvbeta.com/WGES_JrBetaClub.aspx |access-date=2024-09-02 |website=Walnut Grove Elementary School |via=Walton County}}</ref><ref name=":8" /><ref name=":9">{{Cite web |title=Famous People who once were Beta members! |url=https://jrbetapjhs.weebly.com/famous-people-who-once-were-beta-members.html |access-date=2024-09-02 |website=Jr Beta PJHS |language=en}}</ref> *Millard Fuller, founder of Habitat for Humanity<ref name=":6" /> *Ernie Fletcher, 60th governor of Kentucky and United States House of Representatives *Millard Fuller, Habitat for Humanity founder<ref name=":9" /><ref name=":6" /> *Carolyn Kreiter-Foronda, Poet Laureate of Virginia *Heather French Henry, Miss America 2000<ref name=":9" /> *Lynn Norment, a journalist known for her thirty years of writing and editing ''Ebony Magazine'' <ref>{{Cite web |title=Lynn Norment |url=https://www.thehistorymakers.org/biography/lynn-norment-6 |access-date=September 2, 2024 |website=The History Makers}}</ref> *Destin Sandlin, YouTube science communicator<ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xLWUGumz1dI&t=384 The Secret Power of Your High School Year Book-Smarter Every Day 284] - YouTube</ref> *Diane Sawyer, television journalist<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Roldan |first=Marggi |date=October 1993 |title=Diane Sawyer |url=http://alumni.betaclub.org/node/6 |url-status=dead |journal=The Beta Journal |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110725073140/http://alumni.betaclub.org/node/6 |archive-date=July 25, 2011 |via=Beta Alumni}}</ref><ref name=":6" /> *Shawntel Smith, Miss America in 1996<ref name=":9" /> *Justin Timberlake, singer-songwriter<ref>{{Cite web |last=Macatee |first=Rebecca |date=2013-05-30 |title=Justin Timberlake in 1995 Memphis Spelling Bee: See His Precious School Picture! |url=https://www.eonline.com/news/424515/justin-timberlake-in-1995-memphis-spelling-bee-see-his-precious-school-picture |access-date=2024-09-02 |website=E! Online}}</ref> *Herschel Walker, professional football player<ref>{{Cite web |last=Kaczynski |first=Andrew |last2=Steck |first2=Em |date=2022-04-01 |title=GOP Senate candidate Herschel Walker has been overstating his academic achievements for years |url=https://www.cnn.com/2022/04/01/politics/kfile-herschel-walker-overstated-academic-achievements/index.html |access-date=2024-09-02 |website=CNN |language=en}}</ref> *Trisha Yearwood, country musician<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Roldan |first=Marggi |date=1992 |title=Trisha Yearwood |url=http://alumni.betaclub.org/node/19 |url-status=dead |journal=The Beta Journal |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110725073207/http://alumni.betaclub.org/node/19 |archive-date=July 25, 2011 |via=Beta Alumni}}</ref>
==See also== *High school club *Honor Society
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== * {{official website|https://www.betaclub.org}}
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Category:Student societies in the United States Category:Secondary school honor societies Category:Youth organizations based in South Carolina Category:Student organizations established in 1934 Category:1932 establishments in South Carolina