Dutch Fork High School Students Shine in SC Beta Club Competition

For Immediate Release – February 10, 2026

Dutch Fork High School Students Shine in SC Beta Club Competition

IRMO – National Beta members from Dutch Fork High School are celebrating their recent participation in the South Carolina Senior Beta State Convention in Myrtle Beach February 6-7, 2026. The National Beta State Convention allows students to compete in various individual and team competitions. These victories at the state level provide an opportunity to compete at the national level. National Convention will be held at the Gaylord Opryland Resort & Convention Center in Nashville, Tennessee, during Summer 2026.

“Our students’ success would not be possible without the incredible support of their parents and families, who consistently encourage service, leadership, and academic excellence,” Kelly Eckstrom, Beta Club advisor at Dutch Fork High School said. “I was extremely proud of our students for earning first place in 17 competitions and placing in 27 events out of more than 35 schools statewide. Beyond the awards, these students are well-rounded citizens who lead with integrity, serve their communities, and represent Dutch Fork High School with distinction.”

Students were announced as winners of the following competitions:

9th Grade Math

Bryan Zamcho: 1st Place

9th Grade Science

Suzannah “Rosie” Newman-Norlund: 3rd Place 

10th Grade Biomedical Health Science

Grace Ma: 1st Place

10th Grade Health and Physical Education 

Krish Patel: 1st Place 

10th Grade Language Arts

Malaya Flores: 1st Place 

10th Grade Math

Maddox Nie: 1st Place

10th Grade Science

Mustafa Azhar: 1st Place

10th Grade Social Studies

Michael Wang: 1st Place

11th Grade Biomedical Health Science

Caroline Petruzzi: 1st Place

11th Grade Health and Physical Education

Meagan Evans: 1st Place 

11th Grade Math

1st Place: 11th, Tram Nguyen, Math

11th Grade Social Studies

Madison Washington: 1st Place

11th Grade Creative Writing

Ayden Robinson: 5th Place

12th Grade Agriscience

1st Place: Hunter Taylor, Agriscience 

12th Grade Biomedical Health Science

Alexander Kichukov: 4th Place

12th Grade Language Arts

Hewaud “Ace” Khan: 1st Place

12th Grade Math

Max Nie: 1st Place

12th Grade Psychology

Prabhav Gudapati: 1st Place

12th Grade Science

Thomas McKinney: 4th Place 

12th Grade Social Studies

Daniel Leuthner-Barrineau: 5th Place 

12th Grade U.S. History

Conner Thatch: 1st Place

Hand Drawn Anime Division 2

Gracie Hu: 3rd Place

Fiber Arts Division 1

Grace Ma: 2nd Place

Drawing Division 1

Malaya Flores: 5th Place

Musicology

Thomas McKinney, Max Nie, Maddox Nie, Malaya Flores: 3rd Place 

Book Battle

Prabhav Gudapati, Hewaud “Ace” Khan, Alexander Kichukov, Conner Thatch: 1st Place

Robotics Showcase

Michael Wang, Mustafa Azhar, Daniel Leuthner-Barrineau, Thomas McKinney: 3rd Place

“I am extremely proud of how our students performed at the State Beta Club Convention and look forward to seeing that same level of excellence as we prepare for Nationals,” Daniel Leuthner-Barrineau, president of the Dutch Fork High School Beta Club said.

Leslie Barrineau, convention chaperone and the president’s mother, added, “Beta Club provides meaningful opportunities for students to develop leadership skills while serving their school and community.”

The Dutch Fork High School Beta Club is one of the largest and most active Beta chapters in the state, with 310 student members. The club has been sponsored by Kelly Eckstrom for the past 11 years and is known for its strong emphasis on leadership, academic excellence, and community service. Throughout the year, members participate in a wide range of service initiatives, including the Buddy Walk for Family Connection of South Carolina, supporting individuals with Down Syndrome, the Fort Motte African-American History Community Project, Adopt-a-Family programs at Christmas through Mount Zion Baptist Church, and March of Dimes fundraising efforts. In addition, Beta members regularly partner with elementary schools across the district, supporting events such as literacy nights and family fall festivals, among many other outreach activities.

With more than 500,000 active members and 14,000 clubs nationally and internationally, National Beta has become the nation’s largest independent, non-profit, educational youth organization. National Beta promotes the ideals of academic achievement, character, service, and leadership among elementary and secondary school students. National Elementary Beta includes grades 4-5, National Junior Beta includes grades 6-8, and National Senior Beta includes grades 9-12. Visit betaclub.org for more information.

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