Snow Hill – On Friday, November 18, Greene County Middle School’s Award winning Jr Beta Club inducted 66 new members. This was the first fall in person induction since 2019, as the Pandemic prevented the school from holding in person events. Current Members and new members and their families attended the event held in the school’s gym.

During her opening remarks, Principal Diane Blackman told new as well as current members that “You are the leaders of our school.” She emphasized the hard work and dedication that the students had put forth and how their achievement should be a goal for all students.

Following her welcome, Matthew Lococo, who serves as the sponsor, spoke about the achievements of the club during his tenure for the last 5 years. “GCMS Jr Beta holds numerous state and national titles and has been named a school of Merit every year for the Past 5. GCMS has also been named a School of Distinction 3 times in the past 5 years showing the exemplary work of the students.”

Lococo added that the school had performed close to 4000 hours of community service over the past 5 years and that service to the community is a focus for the next several years.

Amber Johnson,  8th Grader and President of the BETA club, spoke about the importance of each of the pillars of BETA which are Achievement, Character, Leadership, and Service. 4 members of the clubs 8th grade leadership spoke to the crowd of about 200 displaying each of the pillars and lighting a candle for each. Following the descriptions of the pillars, each inductee’s name was read, and they were given their certificate. 

Following the presentation, Principal Blackman returned to the podium. As she spoke in her closing remarks, she focused on the future and encouraged students to continue to be the light that shines in our building. She concluded by inviting families to a reception in the school’s cafeteria.

The National Beta’s mission originated with Dr. John W. Harris, a professor at Wofford College in Spartanburg, South Carolina, who founded the organization in 1934. Over 80 years have passed, but his vision and Beta’s mission has remained the same. And most everyone who has been fortunate enough to be called a member has embraced those ideals and applied them to their own lives. From U.S. President Bill Clinton to current professional basketball player Kevin Durant, Beta members continue to lead long after their high school days are behind them. 

If you would like to find out more about the GCMS Jr BETA, visit the GCMS homepage or contact the school. The club is always looking for ways to serve the community and would be excited to partner with you.