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Jessica Candid, a sophomore, won first place in creative writing.
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Blake Barger was second for the state’s Beta Club president.
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So many Greer Middle College Charter High School Beta Club members attended the convention at Myrtle Beach, the tougher task was getting a group shot.
Jessica Candid led more than 100 students from Greer Middle College Charter High School (GMC) with a first place and Gold Key at the annual South Carolina Beta Club convention in Myrtle Beach.
Ten of the students placed in their competitions with six advancing to the National Beta Club convention in New Orleans in June. GMC earned the Gold Key Award for having a 10 percent increase in convention participation.
“Each year it seems like we’ve taken more students,” club advisor Kelly Bailey said. “The first time I took 13 kids, then 33, then 48 and now a 100 gives the kids more opportunities to win the most awards we’ve ever won.”
GMC is also one of three schools nominated as finalists for the Lowell Milken TAP Founders Award.
Laura Sawicki, GMC TAP Master teacher, will be attending the global conference in May at Beverly Hills, Calif. Milken Educator Awards recognizes exceptional teachers where each winning educator is given an unrestricted $25,000 reward.
“We are beyond thrilled to have our program recognized on such a national platform,” Sawicki said. “Our faculty works tirelessly to support and prepare our teachers to achieve excellence. It’s exciting to be noticed.”
Candid, a sophomore, won first in creative writing. “She had an hour to write a prompt and then present it,” club advisor Kelly Bailey said. “It was about if you were put back in time in your life to go through again what would you do.”
Senior, Kathrine Sternick took second in English, and classmates Zach Jones, Alex Kull, Olivia Swalm and Ryan Hofmann took second in character skit.
Four seniors made their last state Beta Club convention a weekend to remember. Miller Pelton, Tyler Prucell, Johnathon Hill and Lucas Peck won top eight from more than 20 acts in the special talent competition.
Justin Matthews, Blake Barger, Bryson Barger and Carolina Donovan gave pep speeches to the 1,774 students at the convention.
“It was so much fun and so much pride for them to reach out to that many kids,” Bailey said. “Blake had the most applause and positive reaction out of all the candidates and Bryson spoke about what inspiration means. Carolina told of never giving up to the obstacles.”
Blake Barger’s leadership skills earned him second for the state’s club president, his third straight year in that position. He was third of 17 in the campaign skit.
GMC students must participate in 50 hours of community service and parents must complete 36 hours of service to the school each year.
“The service really teaches the kids what’s around them and to give back to the community,” Bailey said. “With the parents’ help it brings us closer as a family and donations that we don’t get funded for. We’re a young school with 29 trailers, but we’re a proud trailer park.
The National Beta Club is a non-profit, educational youth organization founded in 1934 by Dr. John W. Harris of Wofford College to teach children leadership skills and independence to stride for success in life.