Twelve students attended the state FCCLA (Family, Career and Community Leaders of America) competition last Friday, March 31. FCCLA is a nonprofit national career and technical student organization for young men and women.

With FCCLA, the students have been learning how to make a difference in one’s families, communities, and future careers. Members learn important life skills such as leadership, planning, goal setting, problem solving, decision-making, and interpersonal communication.

“In preparation for the State contest, we give the students a packet to help them study,” culinary arts teacher Laura Tugwell said. “Also, the work assigned in class is relevant to the competition.”

The State qualifiers and results for Creed, Mission and Purpose were Addison Bailes, Brooklyn Pilkington, and Chasidy Starr, gold medalists with a perfect score, Thania Davila, and Jasmin Mandujano, gold medalists, and Judary Ledezma, a silver medalist. For Etiquette Dennise Salazar got the silver medal, and in Step One Deyla Morgan a bronze medalist.

“FCCLA is a friendly competition between peers” sophomore Brooklyn Pilkington said “as I had already competed last year I was more prepared.”

The regional competitors are Addison Bailes, Thania Davila, Judary Ledezma, Jasmin Mandujano, Brooklyn Pilkington, and Chasidy Starr for Creed, Mission and Purpose, Dennise Salazar for Etiquette, Justus Savage for Hospitality, and Melanie Duran Garcia, Kaliyah Gasaway, Deyla Morgan, and Kaitlyn Shepherd for Step One.

“FCCLA helps us learn about an organization that specializes on helping people, “junior Kaliyah Gasaway said. “Having that knowledge can improve with basic hospitality skills.”