Toppers take home more than 60 ribbons at Appalachian Fair

Science Hill High School students participating in the FCCLA program won 27 blue ribbons this year in competitions at the Appalachian Fair.

Family, Career and Community Leaders of America (FCCLA) is a national career and technical student organization for students in family and consumer sciences education. FCCLA members make a difference in their families, careers and communities by addressing important personal, work and societal issues.

FCCLA members in Heather Conner’s Topper Tots Chapter designed, created and presented projects, including preschool floorplans and dioramas, research and safety projects and a variety of child development projects. Out of the more than 70 projects entered, Science Hill students won 27 first-place ribbons, 20 second-place ribbons, 12 third-place ribbons and five fourth-place ribbons.

“The students' projects this year were outstanding,” Conner said. “A lot of hard work and effort went into creating and designing their floorplans and miniature dioramas, along with researching safety and other topics to showcase in their projects.”

Among others, students who won blue ribbons were Maddie Diamond and Kaitlyn Tilson for their Chapter project on Topper Tots, Leyla Short and Addilyn Higgonbothom for their child development projects, Ty McFadden for preschool designs and floorplan, Caroline Horvath and Arissa Stokes for their safety project on handwashing. Horvath also placed first with her lifespan collage.

Conner said students participating in FCCLA expand their leadership potential by developing skills for life, like planning, goal setting, solving problems, making decisions and interpersonal communication. The program offers resources and opportunities for students to pursue careers that support families.

“I think this was our best showing at the fair and I am very proud of my students,” Conner said. “I think it is a wonderful opportunity to display what the students are learning in our Career and Technical Education classes to the public.”