LA JARA — Centauri High School Family, Career, and Community Leaders of America, FCCLA, competed at the State FCCLA Conference in Denver April 2-4. They were very successful in their respective contests. FCCLA is the only CTSO (Career and Technical Student Organization) with their emphasis being centered on the family.

The following groups are the second and third groups from Centauri High School FCCLA since the North Conejos School District was consolidated in 1964 to qualify for the National FCCLA Leadership Conference competition. The competition will be held in Nashville, Tenn., in July.

The following students received gold medals and were first place in their events and are thus national qualifiers. Only the first place winners from each category are national qualifiers:

• Justin and Jordan Hamilton - National Programs in Action, Senior Division, Gold Medals, 1st place, and National Qualifiers. The parents of Jordan and Justin are Jack and Susan Hamilton from La Jara.

• Haley McGinnis and Emily Valdez, Applied Technology, Junior Division, Gold Medals, First Place, and National Qualifiers. Parents of Haley McGinnis are Mr. & Mrs. Kelly McGinnis from Manassa. Parents of Emily Valdez are Virgil and Sherri Valdez from the La Jara area.

Jordan and Justin also received recognition for the completion of the National Program, Families First. They are among students from throughout the nation who are competing for awards in that division. This is the first time Centauri High School students have completed and submitted the National Program application.

Jose Gurule Jr., Antonito, is the new Vice President of Membership for Colorado FCCLA and is the Colorado voting delegate for the National Leadership Conference. Jose was also recognized as completing all five units for Power of One. His parents are Jose Sr. and Maxine Gurule of Antonito.

Winning silver medals at the state competition in the following areas are:

• Interpersonal Communications - Cody Peterson and Alexa Rivera

• Focus on Children - Katerina Pawloski

• National Programs in Action - Brandy Crowther, Shanay Moeller, T.J. Velasquez

Winning bronze medals at the state completion in Interpersonal Communications were Kylie Harris, Annarae Smith, and Ben Valdez.

Kaylee Sowards from Manassa was on the State Interview Panel.

The students were accompanied to Denver by Marjorie Reed, FCCLA Adviser, and Susan Hamilton, advisory committee member and chaperone.