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McKENZIE (September 9) — Members and sponsors of the McKenzie High School Beta Club gathered in the theater Sunday afternoon to induct another 48 students into their ranks, joined by family and friends.
The ceremony was carried out by Beta Club officers Julianna Cole, Braxton Hobson, Hannah Adkins, Momi DeLoach, Macey Ognibene, Isabella Colotta and Jackey Zheng, sponsors Kevin Gallimore, Beth Bailey and Lizz Gonzalez and Principal Tim Watkins.
Zheng called the program to order, and Cole welcomed all. Hobson then led the Pledge of Allegiance.
Next, different officers in turn explained the mission and vision of the club and the symbolism of the Beta emblem. Then, several of the officers recited the club’s creed, which points to honesty, justice, service, cooperation, responsibility, industriousness, humility and charity.
Cole noted that the club had been recognized for service projects at the state and national level for three straight years. She then introduced the club’s spokesman and featured speaker, Nathan Rorer.
Rorer began by congratulating the inductees, saying, “Each and everyone one of you is an important asset that will shape our wonderful club in the years to come.” He thanked the sponsors for the opportunity to speak at the event.
He said to his fellow members, “We are always told that we can do whatever we dream of and that we can change the world if we just put our minds to the task. As students, as betas, as a TEAM, we can make a difference. We cannot tackle all of the world’s problems in the blink of an eye, but if we all work together we can start the change right here in our community.”
He said, “In order to climb a mountain, no matter how high, there must always be a first step.... The mountain that stands before us today is the battle to combat hunger and lack of available resources in our county. Our Beta service team has joined forces with the Northwest TN Economic Development Council and Ms. Amber Gilmer of the Carroll County Service Center to fight the rising levels of poverty surrounding us. The Northwest TN Economic Development Council is a private, non-profit community action agency that focuses on helping those in need. The Carroll County Service Center is located in Huntingdon, which provides a clothing closet, diaper bank, commodity food program, rent assistance and utility assistance. According to Data USA, about 20 percent of the population in Carroll County live below the poverty line, which is six percent above the national average. This means that well over 5,000 people in our community that we see on a daily basis, struggle for the basic resources that some of us may take for granted. However, there are only about 800 yearly participants in the commodity food program, which means that out the 20 percent of impoverished individuals only about seven percent have utilized these helpful resources. This years’ service team has recognized these needs and has committed to taking the first step necessary to be the change we wish to see.”
He announced the team’s project, the Empty Bowls Soup Supper, which will take place on Thursday, November 29 from 4:30-6:30 p.m. at the McKenzie Farmers Market.
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