Midvale Jr./Sr. High FCCLA Members Earn National Recognition in D.C.

The Midvale Jr./Sr. High School FCCLA Chapter recently returned from the FCCLA National Leadership Conference in Washington, D.C., with an impressive list of accomplishments.

Seven Midvale students qualified to compete at the national conference, representing Idaho with five individual and team STAR Event projects. Reese LaFollette, Gracelyn Avery, Paisley Ingram, Ruby Landreth, Lyla Mikek, Kadence Waggoner, and Kara Lincoln proudly represented Midvale as they competed against the nation’s best. All seven students earned Gold Medals for the quality of their projects and outstanding presentation skills.

STAR Events, which stands for Students Taking Action with Recognition, allow FCCLA members to apply the knowledge and skills they develop through Family and Consumer Sciences education to real-world projects, presentations, and career-related challenges. Participants advance through local and state competition before earning the opportunity to compete at the national level.

In addition to earning Gold Medals, two Midvale projects were recognized among the Top 10 in the nation during the awards ceremony. Kara Lincoln earned 5th Place in National Programs in Action, while Kadence Waggoner and Ruby Landreth placed 7th Place in Chapter Service Project.

Advisor Deah LaFollette and parent chaperones accompanied the Midvale delegation as they joined more than 10,000 FCCLA members, advisers, and guests from across the United States for a week of leadership development, competition, networking, and career preparation.

While in Washington, D.C., students also had the opportunity to experience many of the nation’s most historic landmarks and attractions. Their educational travels included touring the U.S. Capitol, visiting Smithsonian museums, exploring Arlington National Cemetery, walking among the monuments on the National Mall, touring George Washington’s Mount Vernon estate, visiting the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum, attending a Washington Nationals baseball game, and taking a boat cruise along the Potomac River. These experiences gave students a deeper appreciation of American history, government, and culture while creating memories that will last a lifetime.

“Watching these students compete with confidence on the national stage was incredibly rewarding,” said FCCLA adviser Deah LaFollette. “Their success is a reflection of months of hard work, dedication, and the support they’ve received from their families, our school, and our community. They represented Midvale with professionalism, kindness, and pride, and I couldn’t be more proud of each one of them.”

The Midvale FCCLA Chapter extends its sincere appreciation to friends and families, Midvale School District, sponsors, and community partners whose encouragement and financial support helped make this experience possible. The community can take great pride in these students and the way they represented Midvale, Idaho, and FCCLA on the national stage.