Bringin’ home that FCCLA gold

FCCLA

Courtesy photo

Esperanza Almonte (from left),  C.J. Toner and Evie Sivage smile with pride while showing off their first place State FCCLA medals in Cheyenne.

By: 
Cinthia Stimson, cinthia@glenrockind.com

Those kids at Herder High School in Glenrock just keep on winning – and winning some more. In fact, it’s pretty safe to say they’re on a roll in 2022.

FCCLA (Family, Career and Community Leaders of America) State competition in Cheyenne March 23-25 brought out the best of the best – with Glenrock students C.J. Toner, Evie Sivage, Esperanza Almonte, MacKenzie Woods and Mackenzie Richardson proving they are made of quality leadership material.

Freshman Toner was elected vice-president of membership as a state FCCLA officer; he also won first place in the entrepreneurship competition. Toner will attend FCCLA Nationals in San Diego, June 29 - July 3.

Toner said going to nationals is “such a big thing for such a small club like ours. It shows what a club can really do in a small town. As VP of membership, I hope to increase our (participation) in Wyoming. The feeling is just overall awesome. I get to lead a state program down our highway of life. FCCLA is so valuable. It teaches us amazing skills, pathways we can take, and what family and career sciences is all about.”

Sivage is another outstanding freshman at GHS. She was elected to FCCLA District Office, as well as winning first place in the Creed Speech category (although not a national qualifying event).

Junior Almonte won first place in the culinary event and is going to nationals, too.

Woods, a sophomore, competed in the child education competition; Richardson attended State but fell ill and was unable to compete.

FCCLA Advisor Patrick Hopper said what stands out to him about his group of FCCLA kids is that they are self-motivated and love to compete,” and  “they are a product of great families and a supportive community. My job is a pleasure because of this.”

Family Career and Community Leaders of America encourages students to explore careers while serving the community that they live in. It teaches them that they are a part of a bigger picture  of life that they can influence and serve.

The State event was a cakewalk for everyone, however.

“For the culinary competition, we were sent recipes ahead of time  for a chicken dish. Somewhere along the line they switched it to steak, but I must have missed that email. Esperanza practiced for the chicken and didn’t find out that it was actually steak until she arrived at the competition. Fortunately, she is talented enough, (and we cook with steak during the year) so she was still able to pull off first place. Esperanza has natural talent and has competed a lot this year in other culinary events so she was well prepared,”  Hopper stated.

The students are raising money toward the expenses of attending nationals.

Hopper said if there are any service projects that the two students can do, to please contact the high school at 307-436-9201 and ask to speak with him.

“It’s quite an honor that C.J. and Evie’s peers voted them in as officers. They will both play an integral part in leading the hundreds of State FCCLA members for the upcoming year. This is especially amazing since they are both just freshmen. They will gain a tremendous amount of leadership skills during this next year.”

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Glenrock Independent

Physical Address:506 W. Birch, Glenrock, WY 82637 Mailing Address: PO Box 109, Douglas, WY 82633 Phone: (307) 436-2211

The Glenrock Independent is located in the Bronco Building

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