MOVING ON — Students in the Family, Career and Community Leaders of America organization at the Jefferson County Joint Vocational School will be heading to the 2025 Ohio State Leadership Conference in Columbus April 21-24 after earning medals during regionals. Those heading to compete include, from left, front, Adelynn DeGarmo, Ashlynn Hess and Claire Watkins; and back, Madison West, Peyton Ewing, Raeni Kerr, Hannah Sherbondy and Kaley Beebe. Beebe will attend the leadership sessions. -- Contributed

BLOOMINGDALE — Students enrolled in the early childhood education course at the Jefferson County Joint Vocational School will compete against students from across Ohio during the Ohio Family, Career and Community Leaders of America Conference, set for April 21-24 in Columbus.

An estimated 2,000 attendees will compete in various contests for an opportunity to advance to the 2025 National Leadership Conference in Orlando this summer.

Adviser Rebecca Kelley explained her students did well during the FCCLA Region II contest, held at the JVS March 1. At the conclusion of the event, seven members had earned a medal.

The FCCLA is a national career and technical organization for students in Family and Consumer Sciences education.

“I’m proud to be their teacher,” Kelley stated. “They worked really hard. We hosted the regionals this year. They take the top 10 to the states.”

About 125 students from 15 schools participated in the regional event, although the final results were not announced until March 18 in order to determine who was headed to Columbus. JVS recipients included Ashlynn Hess, language and literacy, gold medal; Peyton Ewing, National Programs in Action, gold medal, observation and assessment, silver medal; Adelynn DeGarmo, curriculum unit and ECE, silver medal; Claire Watkins, language and literacy, silver medal; Madison West, curriculum unit, silver medal; and Raeni Kerr and Hannah Sherbondy, lesson presentation team, silver medal.

“The National Programs in Action stemmed from development and targeted parents at the preschool Valentine’s party for developmentally-appropriate activities,” Kelley said. “Payton did a Families First grant and got $250 for the project on ‘Heartfelt Growth: Nurturing Children’s Development.'”

Ewing led activities with children and their parents, reading a story, distributing free books, playing bingo, making trail mix and decorating treat bags. Picture frames were created for families. Ewing provided information on developmentally-appropriate activities, and ensured preschoolers were registered for Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library.

Students will not only take part in competitions, but in leadership sessions, being recognized for their efforts to promote safety through Families Acting for Community Traffic Safety grants.

The junior and senior chapters each gained $1,250, which was used to conduct presentations and an obstacle course using special goggles to simulate impairment.

“Claire, Raeni and Hannah will get Ohio Child Care Resource and Referral Association cords for committing to go school or work in early childhood,” Kelley noted.

Top medalists at states will move on to the nationals in the Sunshine State July 5-9. The FCCLA nationals has drawn more than 4,600 attendees, including members and advisers for lectures, workshops and competitions.