HENRY COUNTY SCHOOL SYSTEM
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: Susan Burton, Communications Director
Paris, TN [October 3, 2025]: The E. W. Grove and Henry County High School (HCHS) BETA Club is making history today as prospective members meet to officially establish the school’s first chapter. This ensures that, for the first time, all schools in the Henry County School System will proudly host active BETA Clubs.
BETA Club is a nationally recognized organization dedicated to promoting the ideals of Character, Service, and Leadership among students. The clubs are vital for student growth, as they formally recognize high academic achievement, reward and nurture worthy character, foster essential leadership skills, and encourage consistent service to others in the community.
Marcy Raus, a STEM teacher and BETA Sponsor at Dorothy & Noble Harrelson School and the newly appointed BETA State Sponsor Elect, emphasized the organization’s impact. “Our students are learning lifelong skills in BETA, such as community building, character building, leadership skills, and service to others,” Raus explains. “Conferences give our students a chance to shine at projects they have a passion for including Academic Competitions, Talent Competitions, Service Projects, and Character Skits.”
Raus is particularly excited this year to take students to the BETA Conference as she fulfills her duties as State Sponsor Elect, a position that requires two years of training before assuming the title of State Sponsor. This role, which focuses on building the Beta Club on campus, improving leadership skills, and serving the community through volunteer work, perfectly aligns with the mission of the newly established Grove/HCHS chapter.
The official launch of the HCHS BETA Club represents the final piece of the Henry County School System’s commitment to providing various opportunities for academic excellence and character development for every student from elementary through high school.
Photo 1: Grove/HCHS BETA Sponsors, left to right, Summer Akers, Rebecca Moore, and Mary Thrash talk to a group of prospective students who were invited to the first high school BETA Club meeting. Students will complete applications to join the club.
Photo 2: Grove BETA Sponsor Mary Thrash delivering an invitation to a student to attend the first high school BETA Club meeting today.
Photo 3: Marcy Raus