Malden Beta Club to host princesses for fundraiser

The Malden High School Commons area will be transformed into a beautiful ballroom filled with Disney Princesses, sweet treats and magical surprises.

The MHS Beta Club will be hosting “A Royal Celebration” on Saturday, Feb. 23. Three different time options are available at 1, 4 and 7 p.m. to limit the party sizes so each guest can interact with the princesses.

“Our goal is to provide a magical experience for the young girls attending,” Beta Co-sponsor Traci Wilson said. “The commons area is converted into a majestic ballroom atmosphere and each guest is treated like a princess.”

Little princesses are encouraged to wear gowns and tiaras to meet and dine with their favorite fair maidens.

“We have had little princesses bring flowers for their favorite Disney princess,” Beta Co-sponsor Heather Bedwell said. “Last year we even had a little boy dressed as the Beast because he loved Belle.”

Upon arrival, guests are greeted and escorted to their reserved seat and the third annual Royal Celebration will begin with a production that introduces each princess and welcomes the audience.

“When the princesses first come out, you can hear the ‘oohs’ and ‘aahs’ from the little girls,” Bedwell said. “They get so excited when they see their favorite princess.”

Refreshments will be served while the enchanting ladies visit each table for pictures and autographs.

Each table is assigned a princess to serve as their hostess for the celebration.

Guests are also assisted in making a sparkly craft, participate in a sing along and will receive a special gift from Prince Charming during the finale.

Scheduled princesses include Moana, Snow White, Aurora, Cinderella, Belle, Ariel, Jasmine, Pocahontas, Mulan, Tiana, Rapunzel, Elena, Merida, Elsa and Anna.

Tinkerbelle, Olaf and the Fairy Godmother are also expected to make an appearance at the celebration.

Special treasures will be available for purchase in the Princess Boutique.

“The boutique will be stocked with tiaras, wands and anything a princess might need,” Wilson said.

Beta students pull off this entire event by serving as the royalty and behind-the-scenes workers.

“Our girls audition for the roles of the character princesses,” Wilson said. “Some of the males choose to serve as princess escorts and ushers.”

The older girls love the opportunity to be a princess, Bedwell said.

“As senior Betas graduate, underclassmen quickly request to be a princess,” she said. “Our Beta girls become these princesses from their dance, theme song, to copying their mannerisms.”

Other Beta Club members work behind the scenes in helping with tickets, catering, boutique sales and props.

Tickets to the event are $10 each for children and adults and can be purchased at Malden High School or reserved by calling the school at 573-276-5794 ext. 1.

Tickets are first-come, first-serve and select time options are expected to sell out quickly.

“It brings tears to see the little girls light up when they see their favorite princess,” Beta Co-sponsor Tisha Earnheart said. “It’s a memorable event of a magical experience.”

Funds from the event will be used for meals and learning experiences for the Beta Club during their trip to Oklahoma City for National Convention this summer.

The 61 MHS Beta Club members qualified to attend the National Convention after a successful State Convention in December.

National qualifiers include Hannah Manes, fourth place in drawing; Seth Proffer, fifth place in science; Claudia Rivera, first place in Spanish; Julie Borshnack, fourth place in math; Julianna French, fourth place in Spanish; and Katie Shuffler and Anna Belcher were selected as premier dance performers and were invited to participate in the opening production number at National Convention.

Group Talent and Show Choir also took first place to represent Missouri at the National Convention.

During State Convention, Tye Miller was also awarded the Three Rivers College scholarship and Julianna French was awarded the Missouri Beta Council Scholarship.