BLOOMIMGDALE — Early childhood education students at Jefferson County Joint Vocational School tested their knowledge at the Ohio Family, Career and Community Leaders of America competition on April 24-25.

Members of the school chapter headed to the state conference at the Kasich Building at the Ohio State Fairgrounds in Columbus, where they were among 1,200 participants from across Ohio. Students placed in several contests but did not qualify for national competitions. Among them were junior Ashlynn Hess, who earned third place and a gold medal for language and literacy; junior Peyton Ewing, who earned third place and a silver medal in observation and assessment and sixth place and a gold medal in National Programs in Action; junior Madison West, who gained fourth place and a silver medal in curriculum unit; junior Adelynn DeGarmo, who took eighth place and bronze medals for both early childhood education and curriculum unit; and senior Claire Watkins, who was eighth in language and literacy and received a silver medal.

Adviser Rebecca Kelley was pleased with their performance and said it was the first time for many of them.

“They all did very well,” Kelley added. “I am very proud of them and many of them stepped out of there comfort zone and tried something new. I’m looking forward to seeing what they will do next year since they were mostly juniors.”

The students also had an opportunity to attend leadership activities, including a meet and greet with state officers, a traffic safety presentation and sessions with motivational speakers.

FCCLA members were very active this year promoting seatbelt safety and impaired driving programs after receiving two Families Acting for Community Traffic Safety (FACTS) grants totaling $2,500. One group hung seatbelt-themed posters around the school and Hess, DeGarmo and Ewing led a Google Slides presentation for the English class, while the second group held an impaired driving obstacle course in the commons area with school-wide participation during lunch. Criminal justice students collaborated with the group and helped set up the course, plus they provided impairment goggles which simulated various states of intoxication. FCCLA members also addressed students about impaired driving as part of their program.

Meanwhile, Kelley looked ahead to the future of the student organization.

“It’s been a great year and I’m already looking forward to next year,” she commented.