Reaching for the stars
Published 3:00 pm Wednesday, April 8, 2015
When Rainee Luper travels to Nashville this summer to run for National Senior Beta Secretary, she may feel like she’s having déjà vu.
Luper, now a junior at Enterprise Attendance Center, served as State Junior Beta Secretary when she was in seventh grade. Now, she’s serving as State Senior Beta Secretary.
“It’s almost like a do over,” she said.
But for the first time in Lincoln County history, Luper will not be running for a national officer title at state alone.
Maycee Francis, a sixth grader at Enterprise, followed in Luper’s shoes and is now serving as State Junior Beta Secretary. And though both are anxious and excited for this summer, Luper brings with her the experience of her previous trip.
Luper recalls the easy friendships she’s made with people from all over the country as a member of Beta Club over the years.
“I’ve never had a connection with people that just clicked like that,” she said. “It’s nice to know that no matter where I visit, I have family there; because that’s what it feels like – family.”
Francis is looking forward to that same bonding experience, but she is also looking forward to presenting her speech.
“It was an amazing opportunity to get up in front of those people and speak,” she said of the state convention.
Both Francis and Luper agree that Beta Club members will be the future leaders of the U.S.
“I know many people are going to go and make bigger life accomplishments,” Luper said.
“We are going to be the future leaders of America,” Francis said.
And though it is a competition, Luper recalls the constant encouragement.
“They’re going to tell you, you did a great job,” she said. “It’s great to be able to get out there and have people still be there for you.”
But first they’ve got to get there. In an effort to assist with the cost, Enterprise’s Beta Club will be host a golf tournament at Wolf Hollow on May 30. The tournament will cost $75 per golfer or $275 per four-man team. Registration will be at 7:30 a.m. and tee off will be at 8 a.m. For more information contact Kimmy Eubanks at 601-757-6231, Debra Byrd at 601-320-3047, Tonya Luper at 604-748-3630 or 601-757-8890.
Beta Club is an organization that focuses on three main goals: leadership, service and character. Luper said on the local level they really focus on the service aspect.
Luper is the daughter of Heath and Tonya Luper. Francis is the daughter of Jimmy and Holly Francis.