National Beta Club and the Tradition of Trading Pins
Recognizing academic achievement, character, and leadership are at the core of the National Beta Club, but it’s the trading pins that steal the show!
We’ve been lucky enough to work with Beta Club teams from around the country to design beautiful trading pins for the national convention, but there’s one customer who stands out from the rest. Dawn Harrell, a Beta Sponsor for over 12 years, recently worked with us to create these amazing Beta Club trading pins inspired by a Nintendo Switch! The theme for 2024-2025 is “Radiate,” and this design might have what it takes to earn the top prize!
Dawn knows all about creating a winning design. Back in 2022, she and her group of Jr. Beta Club members won first place in the judging competition! When asked to describe her experience, Dawn said, “The experiences of attending state and national conventions, making new friends, and being leaders in your school are so rewarding. The Jr. Beta Club has helped me become a better leader and role model for the students, and I know it positively impacts the lives of my students as well.”
Dawn explained that all of her students are encouraged to meet new people during the convention to build networking skills, and that the ability to compete against schools from around the country is a motivating experience. “Having an opportunity to trade pins with other schools is one of their favorite activities,” she said.
With 500,000 members nationwide and thousands of attendees at conventions each year, taking the top price for trading pin design is no easy feat!
Creating a Winning Design to Wow the Judges
National Beta Club pins always follow the convention theme, which changes every year. In 2022, the convention theme was “Beta Together” which emphasised the importance of unity, collaboration, and collective action.
With that theme in mind, Dawn and her students set to work on two designs. The first shows two people dancing on a stage with a slider between them that points to the convention’s key values: character, service, leadership, and achievement. The second trading pin design takes the shape of an acoustic guitar surrounded by glitter enamel and floating musical notes! To help the artwork pop, a blinker was added into the center of the guitar.
These pins were designed the the Junior and Elementary levels of Junior Beta Club, and submitted for judging at their respective levels. The Elementary pins took third place at the state convention and the Junior pins were crowned as champions! Each of the students was given a plaque to take home after the convention as a memento of their achievement, and their excellent design choices!
Dawn said that the trading pins at the convention attract students and adults alike! “They’re definitely attention grabbers,” she said. “We had several people ask for our pins every year, which makes us feel really good. You know you’ve made a really great trading pin when this happens.”
Don’t Wait to Join Beta Club and Design Your Own Custom Trading Pins!
When asked about all her experiences over the year with the National Beta Club, Dawn said, “I would advise any student to join Beta. The experience of attending State and National Conventions, making new friends, and being leaders in your school are so rewarding.” We’re honored to be involved in the iteration and design process for so many of the National Beta Club trading pins designed each year, and hopeful that Dawn and her team can take home another victory with their new pins for the 2024-2025 convention season!
If you’re in need of a custom trading pin design for your Beta Club, we’ve got you covered. Fill out a free quote form and send us a few of your design ideas! We’ll take care of the rest!
