ERATH, La. (KLFY) -- Everett Etie, an Erath High School student who was elected the 2025-26 National Beta Secretary, spoke with News 10 about his achievement and reflected back on the big day.

“With the national secretary, you run the national convention and as a Louisiana secretary, I'll take part in the state convention. So that is managing competitions, that is bringing kids together. It’s giving keynote speeches, and just motivating these kids. That's what you are. You are a figurehead for Beta. You're a role model for all these kids and you are a leader in the Beta community,” he said. “I represent not just my Erath community. Now I represent Louisiana and not only that, but I represent an entire organization on a national level. So I'm here for that. I'm here for all of them and they are my people. So I can't wait to work together and we're going to get some things done.”

Etie said it was a lot of hard work and a yearlong commitment of campaigning to get the position. He once helped the state secretary position and shares his reason why expanding to not just him but others.

“My why changed. At a state level when I ran it was because I found that I was really good at something. I was really good at campaigning to these kids and building that connection with Beta but then after that, I had a kid message me and he said, you’re the only person that talked to me all day, not even my club talked to me that day. You were the only one and that really hit me and that changed my why to now I'm not running for myself. I'm running for all these other kids because I know what it feels like to not have a voice. So, it's my job to give those kids a voice. So, I knew I had to run for national office,” he said. “Being a leader is about bringing the energy, but not just that. It's about making sure that every single person in the room has a voice, has an opinion, is being heard, and has a vision.”

He said he even got a chance to talk about a service project that has impacted him with his non-profit called Kid Designs which prioritizes inclusivity. His speech was about bringing the light to Beta and with him in this new position he hopes to bring energy and inclusivity.

“It's been a nonstop action all since the start and we can give keynotes to kids. It's about motivating these kids to come together and make a nationwide impact, and that doesn't shy away. I'm still the Louisiana secretary, so it's about bringing that Cajun fever home down in Louisiana when the time comes in January and make sure that all these Louisiana kids know that we're backing them, they can do some amazing things,” he said.

Etie thanks all who have helped him on his journey and a message to others inspiring to step out and lead.

“You can do it. It's going to be a lot of work, but you are the light in your communities," Etie said. "You can make an impact and whether that's just statewide or whether that's nationwide, it is attainable. All you have to do is put in the work.”

Vermilion Parish Superintendent Tommy Byler spoke on the opportunity Etie has been presented.

“We’re proud of all of our students any time they get the opportunity to do something on the state level and in this case, the national level," Byler said. "Our students have always excelled in student council and Beta Club and a lot of things they do but this just takes it to another level. He now gets to go across the country throughout the year, and I think people know he's from Vermilion Parish and so that's always a great thing.”

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