The DeKalb West School Junior Beta Club won its first-ever club award at the annual Tennessee Junior Beta state convention on Tuesday (Nov. 22) at the Gaylord Opryland Convention Center . A team of five 8th grade boys took second place in the Tower of Power event. Under the direction of parent John Cain, Will Cain, Ted Tippin, James Sherwood, Kirkland Smallwood, and Lane Davenport constructed a straw tower more than 10 feet tall within 15 minutes.
Each participating team was given 150 plastic drinking straws and a roll of masking tape. They were charged with the task of building the highest free-standing tower they could in a 15-minute time frame. The team with the highest tower that could support a tennis ball at its pinnacle for a minimum of one minute was the winner.
The club also made a specially designed T-shirt geared towards the convention’s theme, “Betas, Start Your Engines.” Participating in the Living Literature event were Chasity Garrett, Katie Roehner, Casey Vickers, Caitlin Tyree, Kyleigh White, Cody Hale, Nate Sherwood, and Jacob Frazier. Participating in the Banner event were Alexis Nokes, Madison Hayes, Nick Staley, and Mackenzie Knowles. Also in the Arts and Crafts category were Anna Malone, black and white photography; Katie Hall, color photography; Breanna Gibson and Noelle Driver, painting; and Hanna Evans, sketching. In the poster contest were Ethan Martin, Jasmine Parker, Samantha Street. In Battle of the Books were Bailey Redmon, Caitlyn Lawrence, and Maegan Harris; and in Spelling, Mary Mofield; in the Quiz Bowl: Keely McKay, Hailey Walker, Alex Foutch, and Morgan Vickers. Thirty-three students from the 6th-8th grades and 16 parental chaperones attended the convention Sunday-Tuesday (Nov. 20-22).
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