The Melissa chapter of Family, Career, and Community Leaders of America (FCCLA) is proud to announce that 11 students qualified for the FCCLA State Conference following their incredible performances at the regional conference held Feb. 6-8 in Waco. Students in FCCLA are tasked with completing projects and taking assessments to test their unique skills.

FCCLA State Qualifiers:

Fashion Construction

• Mahima Vaghani

Fashion Design

• Kinsley Essary
• Michelle Grant

Public Policy Advocate (Team)

• Jenna Gonzales & Rachel Lewis
• Hikmah Abdul-Hammed & Fitz Browne

Professional Presentation

• Jack Duong
• Mariah Judkins

Serving up Success

• Kassandra Mojica

Cupcake Challenge

• Lea Sabo

Two students placed first in their unique projects. Lea Sabo competed in the Cupcake Challenge with her family’s cherished carrot cake recipe. Her cupcakes were adorned with a beautifully delicate floral design, showcasing her incredible creativity and skill. Competing against 37 other competitors, Lea proudly earned first place.

Another student, Mahima Vaghani, dedicated over three months of meticulous effort to create a stunning corset-style wedding dress for the Fashion Construction category. With the top four designs separated by just half a point, Mahima’s hard work shined through as she secured first place at regionals, setting a high standard for the growing Fashion Design program.

In addition to the students advancing to State, the Melissa chapter had seven students earn medals for the exceptional work in various events in the Family and Consumer Science Assessment (FCSA):

FCSA Event Medalists:

• Sophia Martinez – Fashion Design (Gold)
• Mariah Judkins – Creed, Mission and Purpose (Gold)
• Steven Rodriguez – Interior Design (Gold)
• Sarah DeHoog – Fashion Design (Silver)
• Michelle Grant – Fashion Design (Bronze)
• Finley Haslam – Fashion Design (Bronze)
• Kinsley Essary – Fashion Design (Bronze)
• Lia Quevedo – Childhood Development (Bronze)

FCCLA is a premier student organization that promotes leadership, career readiness, and community service through Family and Consumer Sciences education. Members compete at regional, state, and national levels in areas such as culinary arts, fashion design, public speaking, and community service, gaining invaluable real-world experience and teamwork skills.

The FCCLA State Conference will be held April 11-13 at the Hilton Anatole in Dallas.