Students earn medals at state leadership conference

From L-R: Megan Gebhard, Madison Kelly, Nora Pennala, Gina Daavettila, Jacqueline Marsack, Kristina Eskola, Teri Brewer

Six Howell High School students participated in STAR events (Students Taking Action with Recognition) at the FCCLA State Leadership Conference & Competition held April 18-20 at the Valley Plaza Resort in Midland.

Family, Career and Community Leaders of America (FCCLA) is a dynamic and effective national student organization that helps young men and women become leaders and address important personal, family, work and societal issues through family and consumer science education.  Today, more than 250,000 members are active in a network of associations in all fifty states as well as in the District of Columbia, the Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico and Guam.

The following students received a gold medal in their competitive event:

Entrepreneurship Event: Nora Pennala, Gina Daavettila, Kristina Eskola – highest gold medal and representing the State of Michigan at the national competition in June.

Life Event Planning: Madison Kelly, Megan Gebhard – highest gold medal and representing the State of Michigan at the national competition.

Life Event Planning: Jacqueline Marsack – gold medal

The national competition will take place this summer in Orlando, Florida on July 8-12.

“They’re thrilled, it was their goal to get to Florida,” said Cathy Hengesbaugh, who along with Teri Brewer, advises the group.  “It is very rewarding as a teacher to watch them grow and develop their leadership skills.”

For their project, Daavettila, Pennala and Eskola researched starting a business called “The Joy of Toys” to provide a lending library of educational toys for Livingston County families.  They did all of the groundwork for starting their own business.

Gebhard and Kelly planned their spring break vacation to celebrate their high school success, which included researching various cruise lines, planning an itinerary and deciding on a mode of transportation.