Michelle Baker
Special to the Sun

Kern Valley High FHA-HERO won awards at the FHA-HERO State Leadership Meeting held April 9-12 in Fresno, Calif. FHA-HERO is a career technical student organization for students enrolled in Home Economics Careers and Technology programs in California public schools. Approximately 750 FHA-HERO chapter members, advisors, and administrators from 80 chapters from California attended the conference which included interactive student leadership sessions, career development workshops, and the State Finals in Competitive Recognition Events (CRE).

Jessica Gutzman won 1st place in the Interior Design CRE and was presented a $30,000 one year scholarship to Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising (FIDM). Gutzman stated “winning the scholarship is going to help me tremendously next year”. She wanted to thank her mother for her encouragement and Caitlyn Rhynes for her inspiration. Teammates Amanda Moreno, Trinity Snyder, Nick Solis, Victor Taracevicz and Shelby Meyers won 1st place in the Parliamentary Procedure CRE. Moreno also won “Best President.”

KVHS members received the prestigious FHA-HERO Golden State Degrees which recognizes members’ involvement in their chapter, school and community.

Nick Solis was introduced onstage to accept his Region Degree pin and was one of only five students in the state to receive this award. Solis declared “this moment was a pinnacle from which I might be listened to by my peers dedicated to the same goals as I.”

More KVHS members receive their Chapter Degrees than any other chapter in the State. Abbey Stanton, Amanda Moreno, Brooke Meadows, Karly Cataldo, Shelby Meyers, and Zach Heffner earned and received their Chapter Degree pins on stage.

KVHS was proud to be represented by our region and state officers who conducted informative business meetings for the conference.

Abbey Stanton, the State Vice President, was a poignant speaker in her state officer reflection “Grab your Paddle.” Stanton was re-elected as the State Vice President for the 2011-2012 school year.

Trinity Snyder, Region Reporter, and Amanda Moreno, Region Secretary, conducted Region 8 Meetings. Both retired from their offices. Moreno was installed as the Region 8 President for the 2011-2012 school year. The KVHS FHA-HERO advisor, Michelle Baker, is the new Region 8 Coordinator for next year. Region 8 also won the “Region Pride” award for their friendly and happy attitude during the conference.

KVHS chapter was one of only two FHA-HERO chapters in the state to earn the “2011 Honor Chapter” award and “State Superior Chapter Award”. Both awards are based on the chapter’s program of activities and achieving numerous criteria.

The FHA-HERO Chapter would like to thank everyone who helped them attend the FHA-HERO State Leadership Meeting. Thank you to the Pizza Factory for hosting an FHA-HERO fundraiser. Thank you Crossroads Shell for allowing our car washes, and Vons for allowing our Cupcake Sales. They also thank the parents who chaperoned the field trip: Janice Cormack, Kathy McDonald, Debbie Stanton and Bill Stanton.