Schools collect cans of food in Beta Bowl contest Bessemer City , Forestview and North Gaston collect cans of food in Beta Bowl contest
The students at Bessemer City High School may have earned the trophy in the first-ever Beta Bowl , but the real winners were the Gaston County service organizations who received 6,455 canned food items for families in need .
A competition between the Beta Clubs at Bessemer City , Forestview and North Gaston high schools challenged students to see how many cans of food they could collect in just one week . With a final total of 2,822 cans , Bessemer City High School came in first place . Their cans stocked the in-school food pantry , and most of the items were sent to the Bessemer City Crisis Center .
“ I was really pleased with our students and the initiative they took ,” said Beta Club co-sponsor Caitlin Floyd , an English teacher .
To collect the cans , the Beta Club organized a school-wide competition with the winning first period class earning a free breakfast . Kelsey Griffin , club secretary , said the competition was a fun challenge .
“ Even though we ’ re a 1A school , we beat two 3A schools ,” she said , adding that she hopes more schools will compete in the Beta Bowl next year . “ That way , we can donate more and make more of an impact .”
Bessemer City ’ s Beta Club focuses on developing students as leaders , explained Tiffany Fletcher , club co-sponsor and a science teacher . While the club does in-school service activities together , she and Floyd also require students to complete 10 hours of service outside the school . “ They are learning how to find and organize their own volunteer opportunities ,” she said . The Beta Bowl was initiated by Melissa Heilig , Beta Club sponsor and media specialist at Forestview High School . Last year , Forestview and Ashbrook competed against one another in a canned food drive . This year , Heilig invited Beta Clubs at other high schools to join the collection efforts . Her club at Forestview collected 2,578 cans , which were distributed between Gaston County Cancer Services , the Shelter of Gaston County , and Crisis
Assistance Ministry . “ Now that we have established the Beta Bowl as annual event , I ’ m hoping we will get more schools involved next year ,” Heilig said . For this year , the Beta Bowl trophy is making its home at Bessemer City High School .
IN THE PICTURE : From left to right are Caitlin Floyd and Tiffany Fletcher , Bessemer City High School teachers and Beta Club co-sponsors ; Melissa Heilig , Forestview High School media specialist and Beta Club sponsor ; and Bessemer City High Beta Club officers Victoria Beam , Kelsey Griffin and Chyna Pollard .
Students selected for ‘ Best and Brightest ’ honor Best and Brightest 2016
Twelve high school students from Gaston County Schools were recognized by The Gaston Gazette as the ‘ Best and Brightest ’ in the Class of 2016 .
The awards were presented Wednesday , April 13 during an afternoon ceremony at The Schiele Museum . The students from Gaston County Schools were among 27 seniors from public , charter , and private high schools in The Gazette ’ s coverage area ( Gaston , Cleveland and Lincoln counties and Clover , S . C .) to receive the ‘ Best and Brightest ’ distinction .
The Gaston County Schools ‘ Best and Brightest ’ honorees are ( listed by school ):
Ashbrook High School – Mallory Alman Bessemer City High School – McKayla Kennedy Cherryville High School – Landis Moss Stuart W . Cramer High School – Karan Mirchandani East Gaston High School – Brittany Ballard Forestview High School – Linnea Jurs Gaston Early College High School – Montana Crosby Highland School of Technology – Alex Matthew Hunter Huss High School – Nicole Knox North Gaston High School – Avery Patton South Point High School – Lauren Andrews Webb Street School – Cory Lee Swim
Seniors from high schools in The Gazette ’ s coverage area were eligible to apply for the ‘ Best and Brightest ’ award . A winner was chosen from each high school based on academics , leadership , and community service .
“ We are extremely proud of our ‘ Best and Brightest ’ award winners in the Class of 2016 . They are outstanding students who are committed to going above and beyond expectations to excel in the classroom and support their school and community ,” stated Superintendent of Schools W . Jeffrey Booker . “ The ‘ Best and Brightest ’ program is an excellent way to recognize our high school seniors , and we thank The Gazette for making this honor possible .”
In addition to receiving the ‘ Best and Brightest ’ recognition , the 27 seniors competed for a $ 1,500 scholarship and two $ 1,000 scholarships . The scholarship winners from Gaston County Schools were Karan Mirchandani of Stuart W . Cramer High School , who received the $ 1,500 scholarship , and Linnea Jurs of Forestview High School , who received a $ 1,000 scholarship .
Parent Teacher News • May / June 2016 • 3