VHS FCCLA Shines at State Leadership Conference
Courtesy of Vidalia City Schools
The Vidalia High School FCCLA chapter recently made a remarkable showing at the Georgia FCCLA State Leadership Conference held in Columbus, Georgia, from March 24-26. Competing in five events, several of Vidalia’s dedicated members secured an impressive haul of three gold medals and one silver medal, showcasing their talent and hard work at the state level.
A proud group of members attended the conference, including Noah Varn, Hillaree Hankerson, Sanaya Lewis, Rori Johnson, Kingston Ryals, Kelyn Matthews, Jaden Morris, Brayon Lockhart, Ella Mosley, Hailey Burton, Liliana Platova, Grace Woodruff, Zakiyah Jordan, Chloe Anderson, Cannon Sharpton, Arya Dudhawala, and Haidyn Zachary. Several of the students from Vidalia High School will advance to the national competition in Orlando, Florida, this summer!
Among the standout performers, Kingston Ryals, Sanaya Lewis, and Rori Johnson earned a gold medal for their Entrepreneurship project, which highlighted their innovative business idea named 'Renew: Beauty and Soul.' Their entrepreneurial spirit not only captured the attention of judges but will also represent the essence of our FCCLA community at the national level.
Cannon Sharpton also excelled by placing first in her Career Investigation project, earning a gold medal and a trip to the Nationals for her extensive research into a future career as an architect. Her passion for architecture and dedication to her project were clearly evident.
Additionally, Haidyn Zachary and Arya Dudhawala received high honors, placing third with a gold medal for their Chapter Service Project Display. Their project involved organizing and collecting supplies to aid families affected by Hurricane Helene, highlighting the community- driven ethos that FCCLA promotes. The silver medal in the Event Management project went to Grace Woodruff, Chloe Anderson, and Zakiyah Jordan, who organized the annual FCCLA Powder Puff game. Their event not only showcased their planning skills but also fostered school spirit and community involvement.
Another noteworthy project featured Ella Mosley, Hailey Burton, and Liliana Platova, who participated in the Focus On Children event with their project titled 'The Reading Tree.' They recorded videos of VHS students reading picture books, which will be shared with classrooms throughout the district, promoting literacy and a love for reading among younger students.
Noah Varn also played a pivotal role in the success of the chapter by serving as the FCCLA Region 9 Officer during the 2024-2025 school year. His leadership helped spearhead exciting initiatives and strengthen connections among FCCLA members across the state of Georgia.
VHS FCCLA Sponsor Amanda Mosley remarked, “These students were determined to shine! Each student put in a tremendous amount of effort to complete their projects. Their creativity and determination continue to amaze us! We can't wait for them to represent VHS at the National competition this summer in Orlando, Florida! As our students prepare for the national competition, we extend our heartfelt congratulations to all participants and look forward to seeing their continued success!”
HELPING DURING HELENE – Haidyn Zachary (right) and Arya Dudhawala (left) won a gold medal for their Chapter Service Project Display, with which they discussed their chapter members’ work to help others during Hurricane Helene relief efforts. Their presentation won them 3rd place at the State FCCLA Leadership Conference.
CAREER INVESTIGATION – Cannon Sharpton won a gold medal and placed 1st in the Career Investigation competition at the State FCCLA Leadership Conference, where she explained her knowledge about architects.
EVENT MANAGEMENT – Grace Woodruff (left), Chloe Anderson (right), and Zakiyah Jordan (center) won a silver medal at the State FCCLA Leadership Conference for their presentation describing their efforts to host the annual Vidalia High School Powder Puff football game.
RENEW: BEAUTY AND SOUL – Rori Johnson (left), Kingston Ryals (center), and Sanaya Lewis (right) received a gold medal for their entrepreneurship project, Renew: Beauty and Soul, at the State FCCLA Leadership Conference in Columbus, and will now compete at the national competitionin Orlando, Florida.
THE READING TREE – Ella Mosley (right), Hailey Burton (center), and Liliana Platova (left) participated in the Focus on Children competition at the State FCCLA Leadership Conference, where they presented to judges about their project, The Reading Tree. Through this project, the trio recorded videos of VHS students reading picture books, which will be shared with classrooms throughout the district, promoting literacy and a love for reading among younger students.
