Lake Oconee Academy is proud to announce its recognition as a 2022-2023 National Beta School of Merit. The school earned this acknowledgement by offering National Beta to all eligible grades on their campus. National Junior Beta includes grades 4-8 and National Senior Beta includes grades 9-12.

The National Beta School of Merit award is given to honor a club’s dedication and commitment to academic excellence. To achieve this prestigious honor, a school must include members from all eligible grade levels in their Beta club. This year, only 3,583 Beta Clubs across the country received this award.

Lake Oconee Academy’s Executive Director, Dr. Brad Bowling, Ed.D., shared his sentiments, “We are honored to have been selected as a National Beta School of Merit. It is a reflection of our Beta Club students’ efforts not only in achieving academically, but also in developing character through service and leadership among their peers and in our community.”

LOA Beta, along with its sponsors, LOA Faculty - Kris Stevens and Teena Garland, carried out numerous undertakings in the 2022-2023 school year. The projects included trash pickup, canned food collection, toy collection, and a highly successful blood drive. These have provided LOA Beta with distinguished accomplishments, including the following:

●      Through the annual event of Rivers Alive, Beta members helped clear trash from the waterways of Greene and Putnam counties.

●      Approximately 2,000 cans were collected in the school-wide canned food drive to benefit Greene County Food Pantry.

●      Nearly 100 coats were collected in the school-wide Coat Drive to assist Greene County residents who were in need of harsh winter protection.

●      150 handmade, holiday and Valentine’s cards were made for the residents of local assisted living facilities; additionally, members spent time with the residents and helped assist in holiday activities.

●      Beta Club members staffed LOA concession stands for every home basketball game.

●      Beta Club partnered with the American Red Cross to host a community blood drive; Beta members facilitated and provided donors with thank you cards.

To commemorate the accomplishments of LOA Beta, the LOA Beta Officers state:

“We have much more to accomplish; however, through service initiatives and continued vigor to serve, LOA Senior Beta Club members have developed a sense of leadership and devotion toward the community. As the tide shifts to the next school year, we anticipate an even brighter future that encompasses a multitude of opportunities to carry on the principles of a Beta member. ‘Let us lead by serving others’, our guiding principle acts as a catalyst as we lead every service event in our school and community. The wealth of knowledge and experience acquired through our work in the 2022-2023 school year demonstrates our capability to perform but also serves to further our goal of advancing our community through both service and leadership.”

About National Beta  
With more than 500,000 active members and 9,000 chapters nationally and internationally, National Beta has become the nation’s largest independent, non-profit, educational youth organization. National Beta recognizes outstanding achievement, promotes character and social responsibility, encourages service involvement to school and community, and fosters leadership skills. The National Beta program offers over $300,000 annually to its Senior Beta Members. Visit betaclub.org for more information.