MEEKER I The Meeker FCCLA program is considered one of the premier programs in Colorado, and it lived up to its reputation at the weekend’s State Leadership Conference.
Of the 18 students who competed, nine were chosen to represent Colorado at the National Leadership Conference in San Antonio, Texas, in July.
In order to qualify for nationals, the students had to earn a gold medal, receiving a 90 percent or higher on their project and presentation, as well as take first or second place in their respective categories.
Those who qualified for nationals include: Stephany Joos (1st place, gold), Anthony Watt (1st place, gold), Kinzy Burke (1st place, gold), Linda Lombardi and Faith Goedert (1st place, gold), Caitlyn Shepherd (2nd place, gold) and Halle Ahrens, Peyton Burke and Reese Pertile (2nd place, gold).
Other placings at the competition include; Aly Ridings (gold medal), Pedro Cepeda (gold medal), Jenna Walsh and Anna Walsh (silver medal), Lisa Lombardi (silver medal), Shelby Burke and McKenna Kummer (silver medal) and Ohana Mataia and Linda Olivas (bronze medal).
The state competition requires students to complete a project that relates to family and consumer sciences and focuses on how they can make a difference in their school, family and community.
These students spent all school year preparing their projects in order to be successful in the highly competitive conference.
Instructor Corney Aldridge said, “Congratulations to each of the students for their hard work, and to the program for its continued standard of excellence throughout the past 28 years.”