Pam Fisher - Special to the Sun

Thirteen members from Kern Valley High School FHA-HERO Chapter attended the 61st Annual State Leadership meeting in Riverside, April 12 through 15th.¬Ý They brought home trophies and recognition awards for being a 50+ chapter and also becoming one of only 6 schools in California to receive the State Superior Chapter Award.¬Ý

Bethany Stanton was elected and installed in the office as State Treasurer for the upcoming 2008 -2009 school year.¬Ý Bethany will be traveling the entire state to reach out to as many members as she can.¬Ý She will receive special training at the State Department of Education and then will proceed to train the Regional Officer this summer in Fresno.

Kern Valley High School FHA-HERO members take a break from competition to pose for a group photo at the 61st annual FHA-HERO sate convention.

Many of the members attending competed for state recognition. These members first had to compete at the regional level in February to win the right to represent the region at State.¬Ý Our State finalists included Kelly Scoggan in Fashion Design, Chelsea Cormack in Interior Design - Senior Division, Lacey Wilde placing 2nd and Amanda Kirschenman placing 3rd in Interior Design- Junior division, Akyra Frisch and Devon Halsell placed 2nd in Community Involvement, Bethany Stanton placed 3rd in Chapter Activity Manuel, Nashay Matthews was a finalist in Chapter Exhibit, and Ashley Cosgrove was a finalist in Prepared Speech. ¬Ý

All members attended career workshops, listened to motivational speaker, participated in leadership activities, and in planned recreational activities.¬Ý Star Fleet, Jaime Olle and Nicole Smith represented our Chapter as Voting Delegates.¬Ý Jaime Olle and Bethany Stanton led two regional meetings as Region Officers and installed the new officers; Akyra Frisch and Nicole Smith from Kern Valley, and four other students from Delano and Cesar Chavez High Schools.¬Ý

The students had a wonderful experience and would like to thank our chaperones Janet Cormack, Terry Rich and Debbie Stanton and our advisor Mrs. Smith for helping us.¬Ý A special thanks to Blake Hiatt our technology specialist, Mr. Pat Townsend and his woodshop class, and Linda Smith for all her help and our teachers who supported us in many ways.