The Bell County Board of Education took time to recognize a wide range of students who had placed at several recent regional, state and national academic competitions during a special called meeting on Monday and their regular meeting on Tuesday.

“We’re very proud of you all. This just shows what quality kids we have. We’re very blessed to have some of the smartest people in the world right here in Bell County. We’ve got good teachers, good sponsors for these programs and good principals and we are all just very proud of all of you,” Bell County Superintendent Tom Gambrel said after passing out awards on Monday. “It just amazes me every time when I get up here and talk about what all you have accomplished.”

Monday, the board recognized students from the Page and Yellow Creek Beta Clubs.

Yellow Creek’s Zina Okwundu, Rayleigh Scott and Deacon Barnes were presented plaques in honor of placing first at last June’s National Beta Convention in Re-imagine, Recreate, Recycle. The group turned a flag pole into a fishing pole and used a tape dispenser to fashion a reel.

Those same three students placed fifth nationally in Meeting of the Minds. Okwundu and Chloe Marsee placed second in  Create/Animate.

Yellow Creek also had several students who placed at the 2024 State Beta Convention. Those included Kenna Money — second place in Creative Writing;  Claire Ellison — fifth place in On-Site Painting; Rose Willis — third place in Color Photography; the team of Tanner Thomas, Kenna Money, Meredith Warren and Kayleigh Napier — fifth place in Robotics; and the team of Deacon Barnes, Hadley Barton, Tanner Thomas, Kenna Money, Meredith Warren, Kayleigh Napier, Rose Willis, Claire Ellison, Cayleigh Miracle, Emmalyn Raines and Ian Lewis — fourth place in Apparel Design.

Page had three students who placed at the 2024 State Beta Convention: Brody Sanders placed first in Digital Art, Connor Goodin placed second in 6th Grade Science and Zara Stewart placed fifth in Painting.

During Tuesday’s meeting, students were recognized from the Bell Central Beta Club, Bell County High School’s Beta Club, DECA and FCCLA.

Bell Central students placing at the State Beta Convention included:  Kadence Henderson —3rd place in Language Arts; the team of  Gracie Blevins, Delilah Blevins, James Boster, Ella Dunn, Mattox Hammons, Jase Knuckles, Ethan Owens, Tytus Schultz and Parker Elliott— fourth place in Robotics; and the team of Mattox Hammons, Blake Henderson, Jase Knuckles, James Boster, Gracie Blevins, Ethan Owens, Gunner Wyatt, Mason Ward and Tytus Schultz — second place in RCX Robotics

Bell County High DECA students recognized included: Kaleigh Dozier for placing third at the regional competition and ninth in the state competition in KY Sports Marketing; Michaelyn Dye for placing first at the regional competition and fourth at the state competition in Personal Finance; Payton Elliot for placing second at the regional competition and fifth at the state competition in Apparel and Accessory Design Marketing; Holly Gambrel for placing first at the regional competition and second at the state competition in Entrepreneurship; Macie Hendrickson for being named the Outstanding Chapter Member at the regional competition and placing third at the state competition in Ky Level 1 Sports & Entertainment Cluster;  Zarahan Latham for placing second in both the regional and state competitions in KY Retail Concepts.

BCHS Beta Club students were recognized for placing at the State Beta Competition included: Sidney Young — first place in Sculpture Division 1;  Kinley Miracle — fifth place in Poetry Division 1; Kenley Foster — second place in Woodworking Division 1; Ava Harris — first place in Fiber Art Division 1; Leah Jones — second place in Digital Art Division 1; Alexis Ellison — second place in On Site Painting Division 1; Landon Eldridge — fifth place in Hand Drawn Anime Division 2; Braydin Hickey — third place in  Recyclable Arts Division 2; and the team of  Payton Elliott, Kinley Miracle and Paisleigh Wilson — third place in Marketing & Communication.

BCHS FCCLA students Baleigh Thacker and Lacey Sexton were recognized for placing first in Promote and Publicize Level 3.

Also recognized were Bell County High School’s Hailey Sanders for being named a 2024 Rogers Scholar and Lone Jack’s Reagan Day for being named a 2024 Rogers Explorer.