Article submitted by Dr. Lisa Petrie
Students from Todd County Central High School and Todd County Middle School Beta Clubs recently competed at the 2025–2026 Kentucky Beta State Convention, earning multiple top finishes and qualifying several events for national competition.
The middle school convention was held March 1–3, 2026, and the high school convention followed March 4–6, 2026, in Lexington.
The convention, held under the theme “Wired for Success,” brought together students from across the state to compete in academic, leadership, and fine arts events.
TCCHS students earned several top placements across academic and fine arts competitions. Lucas Stratton placed first in 10th-grade Language Arts. Additional high placements included Grace Tabor, fourth in 10th-grade Agriculture; Joe Anthony Tabor, fifth in 12th-grade Agriculture; and Cadie Brown, fourth in 9th-grade Agriculture.
In other academic areas, Alejandro Gonzales-Hayes placed fourth in 9th-grade Spanish, and Elizabeth Langley earned fourth place in 12th-grade Spelling.
In the arts, Annabella Tobar placed fifth in Painting.
The TCCHS Book Battle team—Amelia Mallory, Annabella Tobar, Addison Johnson, and Lucas Stratton—placed fifth overall after competing against teams statewide.
Amonzo Osborne represented TCCHS as a candidate for State Beta Vice President. His campaign, themed “No Beta Left Behind,” included a skit that placed fourth in the state. Osborne also designed the set and choreographed the performance.
In the performing arts, Keyla Loza presented Arioso by Johann Sebastian Bach on the Beta stage.
At the national level, TCCHS students will compete in All the World’s a Stage with a performance based on Fancy Nancy. They also qualified in Beta Blitz and Collaboration Connection.
Their Project Proposal, titled “Wiring the Past for the Future,” was completed in partnership with Green River Academy and focused on restoration efforts and support of the community’s Shadows event.
TCMS students also earned strong placements. The club received second place in Digital Scrapbook and fifth place in Service Learning Project, led by Lillian Power.
In academic competitions, Ellery Jenkins placed fifth in 7th-grade Science, while Jeyvin Rios Velasco earned fifth place in 8th-grade Spanish.
In the performing arts division, Ella McCuiston earned a Golden Ticket as a Premier Performer (Singer), allowing her to perform alongside top Beta students from across the nation at the national convention.
At nationals, TCMS students will compete in All the World’s a Stage, where they will perform “Sick” by Shel Silverstein.
Their Project Proposal focuses on collecting pull tabs for the Ronald McDonald House Charities in Nashville. The project was completed in memory of Waylon Jones, the grandson of their sponsor, Dr. Lisa Petrie. Waylon spent many months in the hospital, and his parents were able to utilize the Ronald McDonald House.
Students also qualified in Beta Blitz and Collaboration Connection, demonstrating teamwork, creativity, and problem-solving skills.
Looking ahead to Nationals, Todd County students will compete at the National Beta Convention in June in Nashville, Tennessee.
The success of both TCCHS and TCMS Beta members reflects a strong commitment to leadership, service, and academic excellence as they prepare to represent their community on the national stage.
