National Recognition & Awards
There are many National Beta recognition and award opportunities available for you, your students, and your club. This guide contains details on each, how to apply and deadlines for the 2024-2025 school year. Click on the name of the award below to find out more.
Table of contents
Club Recognition & Awards
National Beta School of Distinction
National Beta School of Distinction Award is an honor for Beta clubs striving towards academic achievement, exemplary character, demonstrated leadership and service to others. With an ongoing quest to instill these qualities in more students, the National Beta School of Distinction Award is designed to award those schools that show an increase in membership for the current school year.
How does it work? Beta clubs who increase membership 10% by the deadline will be awarded the National Beta School of Distinction. Growth is evaluated based on student membership from the close of the previous school year to student membership as of the deadline.
How to Apply: Submit deserving students for Beta membership by the deadline. Membership will calculate the increased student involvement and if your club shows a 10% membership increase from the last school year, your school will be awarded the National Beta School of Distinction. You can check to see if your club has qualified here.
The Award: Schools who achieve National Beta School of Distinction will receive a congratulatory letter addressed to your school celebrating the accomplishments of your Beta members, a digital badge, press release, and a National Beta School of Distinction banner to proudly display in your school. The award ships each August.
Deadline: June 30, 2025
National Beta School of Merit
The National Beta School of Merit award is given to honor a club’s dedication and commitment to academic excellence. To achieve this prestigious honor, a school must include members from all eligible grade levels in their Beta club.
How to Apply: Simply submit deserving students in any missing grades for Beta membership by the deadline. If you are missing any grades which would qualify your club for the award, you will be notified via email. Your school will achieve National Beta School of Merit status by increasing student involvement in all eligible grades on your school’s campus. You can check to see if your club has qualified or the grades needed to achieve the award here.
The Award: Schools that include all eligible grade levels by the deadline will receive a congratulatory letter, a digital badge, press release, and a National Beta School of Merit window decal to proudly display as a symbol of your club’s accomplishment. Decals and congratulatory letters will be included in each membership material box.
Deadline: June 30, 2025
National Beta District of Distinction
National Beta District of Distinction is awarded to school districts who demonstrate a commitment to academic excellence, leadership, development and service involvement. In order to qualify, all schools within the state recognized school district must offer National Beta and induct qualifying students in grades 4th-12th within each school. Districts that do not encompass grades 4th-12th are not eligible for this award.
How to Nominate: Nominate your district for the District of Distinction award by completing the nomination form available on the sponsor site under the Resources tab by the deadline.
The Award: District Superintendents of the National District of Distinction award recipients will receive a congratulatory letter, digital badge, press release, and District of Distinction award, they will also receive awards for each school within the district.
Deadline: April 25, 2025
Social Media Award
The National Beta Social Media Award honors the clubs that best use social media platforms to communicate the mission of National Beta in a fresh and innovative way. Winners are selected by division for their best use by platform and best overall.
How to Apply: Nominate your school for the Social Media award by completing the nomination form available on the sponsor site under the Resources tab by the deadline.
The Award: Clubs will receive a congratulatory letter, digital badge, press release, and Social Media award. Division winners receive a custom light-up award. Overall winners receive a custom acrylic award. Awards will ship in May.
Deadline: April 11, 2025
Hall of Fame Service Award
The Hall of Fame celebrates those projects that go above and beyond to benefit your school, community and even state. Only one Elementary Beta, one Junior Beta and one Senior Beta club is selected each year.
How to Apply: Nominate your club for the Hall of Fame Service Award by completing the nomination form available on the sponsor site under the Resources tab by the deadline. Sponsors will describe the one service project they felt made the biggest impact on their school, community and state. A committee of National Beta alumni will review all submissions and select winners in May.
The Award: Clubs will receive a congratulatory letter, digital badge, press release, and a Hall of Fame trophy. Awards will ship in June.
Deadline: April 30, 2025
John W. Harris Leadership Award
Named after Beta’s founder, the John W. Harris Leadership Award recognizes outstanding clubs based on how they embody our four pillars of achievement, character, leadership and service. We are excited to share an update for this award as it has moved from an individually-focused award to a club-based award, allowing greater recognition for clubs who epitomize the mission of National Beta.
How to Apply: Nominate your club for the John W. Harris Leadership Award by completing the nomination form available on the sponsor site under the Resources tab by the deadline. A committee of National Beta alumni will review all submissions and select winners in February. *Only one form per club should be submitted. Winners will be notified via email.
The Award: The top five clubs per division will be selected by our Alumni Review Committee. Winning clubs will be eligible to take 10 free members to the Regional Leadership Summit of their choosing the following fall. Clubs will receive a congratulatory letter with a plaque, a digital badge, and press release.
Deadline: January 17, 2025
Service Hour Award
The Service Hour Award, celebrates Beta clubs that knock service out of the park! Clubs that reach a distinct service level will receive an award for their club and members.
How does it work? At the end of each year, service hours are tallied via the Service Hour Tool available on the sponsor site or through the mobile app, clubs are awarded in a tiered system based on the average hours performed by each member.
How to Apply: Simply enter the service projects performed by your club between May 1, 2024 and April 30, 2025. Hours may be submitted via the Service Hour Tool found by clicking Manage My Hours on the Sponsor Site or through the Service Hour features found in the Mobile App. Hours are automatically calculated based on the average hours performed by each member as of the deadline date.
The Award: Most awards will ship the last week of May.
All-Star – 50-75 Hours per Member Recipients receive a congratulatory letter, digital badge, press release, All-Star Service pins for all members, and a plaque for your club.
MVP – 76-99 Hours per Member Recipients receive a congratulatory letter, digital badge, press release, MVP Service pins for all members, and a trophy for your club.
Grand Slam – 100+ Hours per Member Recipients receive a congratulatory letter, digital badge, press release, Grand Slam Service pins for all members, and a mini-Louisville Slugger baseball bat to display in your school.
Deadline: April 30, 2025
Sponsor Recognition & Awards
Educator of Excellence
The Educator of Excellence award is designed to honor Beta Sponsors who are committed to Beta Club growth, who also include members from all eligible grade levels in their Club, participate in National Beta events with their students and commit to service within their club.
How does it work? In order to achieve Educator of Excellence status, a school must accomplish ALL of the following four achievements. All sponsors within your school will receive the award if achieved.
- You must earn the National Beta School of Distinction honor by the award deadline of June 30, 2025.
- You must earn the National Beta School of Merit honor by the award deadline of June 30, 2025.
- Your students must attend ONE of the following National Beta events: Leadership Summit, State Convention, or National Convention
- Your club must achieve one of the Service Hour Awards by the deadline of April 30, 2025.
If these requirements are met, the awards will automatically be sent to your school’s principal in August 2025.
The Award: All sponsors within the schools that achieve an Educator of Excellence will receive a congratulatory letter addressed to your school’s principal celebrating the accomplishments of your Sponsors, a digital badge, press release, an Educator of Excellence lapel pin, a certificate of achievement and recipients will be recognized at their State Convention.
Deadline: June 30, 2025
Sponsor Pins
A sponsor pin signifies inclusion within a group of individuals dedicated to helping students develop in to the leaders of tomorrow. Your pin may be worn at or during Induction Ceremonies, Officer Installation Ceremonies, National Beta events, Service Projects or Professional Development activities.
How does it work? Each sponsor listed on your club’s roster will receive a pin to commemorate their involvement within the National Beta organization. Sponsors added throughout the year will receive their pin as part of the membership material box when new members are added.
The Award: Sponsors receive a pin their first year then receive pins in 5 year increments up to 50 years.
Member Recognition & Awards
Diploma Seals
National Beta seals are adhered to your graduating 12th graders diplomas to symbolize their Beta membership. The National Office will include diploma seals for all senior members on your roster with your completed new member material shipment. ** The number of diploma seals provided reflects the number of active 12th graders on your roster, plus we include a few extras. Please count your seals as soon as you receive them to confirm you have enough. Be sure to save these seals for your graduation. To ensure that you receive the correct number of seals, please look over your roster and make updates accordingly.
National Beta Scholarship Program
National Beta awards over $300,000 in scholarships each year to 12th grade Beta members. Selection of National Beta Scholarship winners is based on a number of factors, with an emphasis on academic excellence, demonstrated leadership, commendable character, school and community service, as well as participation in National Beta Club activities.
How does it work? Beginning November 1, 2024, the scholarship application (scholarship.betaclub.org) will open to all 12th grade Beta members. To access the application, students will enter their Member ID and last name. The scholarship application process occurs in two phases.
Phase 1: Eligible members must complete their application for a National Beta Scholarship by 11:59 pm EST, January 16, 2025. All applicants will be notified via email by February 13, 2025, if they have been selected to receive a scholarship. The top 100 semifinalists will move forward to Phase 2.
Phase 2: Beta members selected within the top 100 applicants are required to submit additional materials such as essays and letters of recommendation. A complete list of required materials will be made known to those applicants. These materials will be used by our review committee to select the 5 recipients of our top awards. These materials are due on March 16, 2025.
The Award: Our Top 5 recipients will receive awards of $20,000, $15,000, $10,000, $8,000 and $6,000. In addition, 242 applicants will receive an award of $1,000. Checks will be mailed to each recipient the week of May 5, 2025 via USPS Certified Mail.
Sponsors of recipients receive a certificate to present to their recipients.
Important Dates:
- Application Open - November 1, 2024
- Application Deadline - January 16, 2025
- Winners and Semifinalists Announced - February 13, 2025
- Top 100 Semifinalist Material Deadline - March 16, 2025
- Winners Announced - May 1, 2025
Alumni Recognition & Awards
The Distinguished Alumni Award is the highest honor bestowed upon a former National Beta member. Alumni who demonstrate leadership abilities, serve within and outside of National Beta, and individuals of high moral character are eligible for the award.
How to Apply: Visit the application on the alumni landing page by the deadline.
The Award: Recipients will receive a plaque in the mail and recognition on National Beta’s social media platforms.
Deadline: April 11, 2025