Two seventh-grade students were tapped during an induction ceremony into the Junior Beta Club that was held on Friday, Jan. 5, at The O'Neal School.

The new inductees are Julia Rickard, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Lowell Rickard of Sanford, and Chinchu Singh, son of Mr. and Mrs. Prem Nath of Southern Pines.

After the welcome, devotional and pledge of allegiance by Cecy Morcom, Junior Beta sponsor; Matthew Friesen and Austin Puleo, respectively, Jason Wolonick introduced the guest speaker, Laura Puleo, senior O'Neal student.

Heather Dyer, Alex Abell, Abbey Dahl and Sarah Brown each lit candles representing the four virtues of the Junior Beta Club: service, leadership, scholarship and honor.

Maura Thornton reviewed the qualifications of membership. Current members then "tapped" the inductees, after which all of the members recited the Junior Beta Pledge. Rebecca Wolonick led the dismissal.

In addition to the new members, current members are: Alex Abell, Alex Averbook, Maeve Bartiss, Sarah Brown, Isaac Cameron, Abbey Dahl, Brandt Davis, Bernie Dembosky, Heather Dyer, Katie Dyer, Claire Epling, Tory Fedder, Kendall Field, Matthew Friesen, Kurt Hilburger, Addison Horner, Caroline Hudson, Charlie Johnson, Scott Karan, Austin Puleo, Amelia Schirmer, Maura Thornton, Jason Wolonick, Rebecca Wolonick and Will Youngclaus.

The Junior Beta Club at O'Neal is an academic, honorary organization.

To be eligible for membership, a seventh- or eighth-grade student must have an average academic grade of A- with no grade below B for English, math, science, and history. Foreign language is included for eighth-grade students.

Grades are reviewed for either the last marking period of the previous year or for the last trimester of the last year and the first trimester of the present year, whichever is better.

Students have a chance to be inducted at the end of the first, second or third trimester.

An independent college preparatory school for pre-kindergarten through grade 12, The O'Neal School is celebrating 35 years of dedication to the development of academic excellence, strength of character, and physical well-being of its students.

The O'Neal School is currently accepting enrollment applications for the 2007-2008 school year.

For more information, contact Alice Droppers, director of admissions at 910-692-6920 or visit www.OnealSchool.org.