Fourth- and fifth-grade gifted and talented students from the Retta Brown GT Center represented the El Dorado School District at the National Beta Convention in Nashville, Tennessee, June 20–24.
Accompanied by district staff, students competed in 22 national competitions across academic, visual arts, performing arts, and club categories. Throughout the convention, students demonstrated leadership, creativity, teamwork, and school pride as they competed against Beta members from across the country.
Two El Dorado students earned national academic honors. Boston O’Neal placed 10th in the nation in Social Studies, while Joseph Marquez placed seventh in the nation in Spanish.
Both students earned recognition at the Arkansas State Beta Convention in January, qualifying them to take the national preliminary exam online in May. Their scores placed them among the top 20 students nationally in their respective categories and earned them the opportunity to compete in person against students representing 44 states.
Lillian Geurin Elected National Vice President
One of the district’s most notable accomplishments came through Lillian Geurin’s campaign for National Beta Club Vice President.
Lillian was elected Arkansas State Vice President at the state convention in January, qualifying her to campaign for national office. During the National Beta Convention, she delivered a speech on the national stage, participated in a question-and-answer session, and spent several days meeting Beta members from across the country.
On June 23, Lillian was elected National Beta Club Vice President, an extraordinary achievement for both Lillian and the El Dorado School District.
To support Lillian’s campaign, Retta Brown GT Beta students created and performed an original campaign skit featuring singing and dancing. The performance earned fourth place in the nation.
National Competition Participants
Retta Brown GT Beta students participated in the following events:
Visual Arts — Individual
Aubrey Sanford — Painting
Knoa Aplin — Color Photography
Isabella Ezell — Jewelry Design
Lily Rainwater — Pottery
Chloe Lee — Quilling
Performing Arts — Individual
Liv Compton — Dance
Performing Arts — Club
Songfest: Elizabeth Geurin, Neily Cheatham, Zara Nwude, Amara Nwude, Avery Speer, Lily Rainwater, Isabella Ezell, Aubrey Sanford, Chloe Lee, Liv Compton, and Knoa Aplin
Campaign Skit: Elizabeth Geurin, Neily Cheatham, Zara Nwude, Amara Nwude, Avery Speer, Lily Rainwater, Isabella Ezell, Aubrey Sanford, Knoa Aplin, Joseph Marquez, Calvin Young, Liv Compton, and Chloe Lee — fourth place in the nation
Club Competitions
Reimagine, Recreate, Recycle:
Chloe Lee, Aubrey Sanford, and Lily Rainwater
Meeting of the Minds:
Boston O’Neal, Zara Nwude, Joseph Marquez, and Knoa Aplin
Create and Animate:
Elizabeth Geurin, Neily Cheatham, and Zara Nwude
Convention Invention:
Amara Nwude, Avery Speer, Emmett Lee, and Calvin Young
3D Design
2D Design
Apparel Design
Accessorized Design
Scrapbook
Service Learning Board
Academic — Individual
Joseph Marquez — Spanish, seventh place in the nation
Boston O’Neal — Social Studies, 10th place in the nation
Academic — Club
Quiz Bowl: Calvin Young, Wilson Reynolds, Spencer Huitt, and Boston O’Neal
National Election Candidate
Lillian Geurin — Elected National Beta Club Vice President
The El Dorado School District is incredibly proud of these students and the exemplary manner in which they represented the Retta Brown GT Center, the district, and the state of Arkansas on the national stage.