Fulmer Middle School’s National Junior Beta Club recently held a car wash fundraiser, one of several events club members participate in during the school year.
Keely Ballentine, Fulmer’s 8th grade school counselor and lead advisor for the Junior Beta Club, talked about this year’s club and its focus on leadership and service.
1. How much was collected during the recent car wash fundraiser, and how will the money be used?
Our Junior Beta Club hosted the car wash to support next school year’s convention trip, competition materials, and future service-learning projects. Thanks to the support of our families and community, we raised just under $400! These funds will help our members grow as leaders, showcase their talents, and give back to the community.
2. What other projects/activities are members planning in the coming months?
Each year, our members help Reading is Power International prepare approximately 100 home libraries for local Spanish-speaking families. This ongoing service project gives students an opportunity to support literacy in our community.
We are also excited to partner with Fulmer’s new Student Council and our eighth-grade mentor groups on service-learning projects. Our plans include participating in Adopt-A-Highway, writing thank-you cards for veterans for our Veterans Day assembly, and hosting a Toys for Tots drive. These partnerships will give students opportunities to work together and address needs in our community.
We will invite new members to join our chapter in early November and hold our induction ceremony in mid-November.
3. How many club members do you have?
Our chapter currently has 52 members, all in seventh and eighth grades. We look forward to welcoming additional members this fall!
5. How does being part of this club, and events like the car wash, benefit these Fulmer students?
Junior Beta Club gives students opportunities to put leadership and service into practice. Events like the car wash help students develop teamwork, communication, responsibility, and problem-solving skills while working toward a shared goal. Students see firsthand how their time and efforts can make a difference for others.
These experiences also help prepare students for the workplace and adult life. Collaborating with others, following through on commitments, and taking initiative are skills students will need in any career. This work supports the Profile of the South Carolina Graduate through collaboration, work ethic, perseverance, and interpersonal skills.
6. Anything we didn’t ask that you’d like to add?
We want our students to understand that leadership begins with how we serve others. I’m especially excited about the collaboration among Junior Beta Club, Student Council, and our eighth-grade mentor groups. Working together will help students build stronger connections across our school while making a meaningful difference in our community. We are grateful to the families, staff, and community organizations who support these opportunities for our students.
