Second place winner, Francisco Gutierrez of Golden West High School in Visalia; in the FHA-HERO Consumer Education competition, First place, Samantha Yang of Edison High School in Fresno, Third place, Kiranpreet Dhaliwal of Pitman High School in Turlock.
(RIVERSIDE, California) California FHA-HERO, an organization for students enrolled in Home Economics Careers and Technology courses, held its State Leadership Meeting in Riverside.
Nearly 500 students participated in state level competitions based on 21 career development areas that are a part of the curriculum they have studied in school. There were an additional 300 students, adults and community leaders involved in the meeting as well.
Most events were held at the Riverside Convention Center, and the students participated in state finals competitions there, at the Riverside Marriott Hotel, Riverside’s Mission Inn and at The Art Institute of California-Inland Empire in San Bernardino.
Marilyn Gallardo, a senior at Pacifica High School in Oxnard, received special recognition in this competition as the Best of Show entry in the senior division, for her display of cakes and tortes. In all, 95 students received the top awards.
“The students were really thrilled to be recognized for the skills they have learned in the Home Economics Careers and Technology program,” said Janice DeBenedetti, statewide coordinator for the program, which is a part of the California Department of Education. “They were thankful for our sponsors, not just for the scholarships they donated, but also for the cash awards and other prizes.”
FHA-HERO is an organization for students enrolled in courses preparing them for careers in three industry sectors: Hospitality, Tourism & Recreation (including Culinary Arts); Fashion & Interior Design; and Education, Child Development & Family Services. The courses, which focus on both leadership and career development, are offered in high schools, Regional Occupations Programs and some middle schools.
During the conference, students also elected a slate of state officers, and participated in leadership training. One of the primary goals of FHA-HERO is to develop future community leaders, and many students especially enjoy this aspect of the organization.
“I thought it was a great experience,” said Francisco Gutierrez, a senior at Golden West High School in Visalia. “This was my first year in FHA-HERO, and it was a lot of fun going to Riverside for four days and staying at the Mission Inn.”
Francisco was further elated with the experience when he learned he took second place in the Consumer Education competition, in which he gave a presentation on medications used to treat Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder (ADHD). He had only placed second in the regional competition, so doing so again at the state level was unexpected.
“I was very surprised,” he said. “There were people from all over the state at that level, so I really didn’t expect to do as well.”
Even more surprise came for Francisco when he learned the first place winner would not be able to attend the national competition, thereby giving him the opportunity to do so.
“I’m looking forward to it,” he said. “I’m just trying to raise the money.”
Edison High School in Fresno took home five of the trophies. Even for those who didn’t win, it was a great experience said competitor Suzanna Vang,
“Even though I didn’t win, my best friend, Pabai Vang, placed, so it feels good knowing she won.” Suzanna said. “It took a lot of my free time, and I had to find a balance between school and work, so just to know that I did it gives me a sense of accomplishment.”
First, second and third place winners received trophies and plaques to recognize their achievements. First place winners also received additional prizes as provided by the competition’s sponsors, and occasionally, so did second and third place winners. In addition, first place winners, or in some cases the runners-up, can advance to a national competition.
The competitions, winners and their awards were:
SENIOR DIVISION
Hospitality, Tourism & Recreation: First place, Ryan Johnson of California High School in Whittier $1,000 scholarship, Second place, Araceli Montoya of Mt. Diablo High School in Concord, $750 scholarship; Third place, Ibon Zapien of Mt. Diablo High School in Concord, $500 scholarship.
Commercial Food Preparation: First place, Casey Shepardson of Mt. Diablo High School in Concord, $100, knife set, chef coat; Second place, Nataline Jindoian of Mt. Diablo High School in Concord; Third place, Kaylee Johnson of Chino High School in Chino.
Culinary Arts Display A - Appetizers: First place, Roman Chavez of California High School in Whittier, $100, chef coat; Second place, Jazmin Quinonez of Bell Gardens High School in Bell Gardens; Third place, Eduardo Trevino of Bell Gardens High School in Bell Gardens
Culinary Arts Display B - Breads: First place, Zachary Chenoweth of Pacifica High School in Oxnard, Scholarship, chef coat; Second place, Angelica Mungia of Chino High School in Chino; Third place, Mark Gonzales of California High School in Whittier
Culinary Arts Display C – Decorated Wedding Cakes: First place, Krisina Kovill of San Juan High School in Sacramento, $1,000 scholarship, chef coat; Second place, Nick Christian of San Juan High School in Sacramento, $750 scholarship; Third place, Ashley Gonzalez of Bell Gardens High School in Bell Gardens, $500 scholarship.
Culinary Arts Display D – Advanced Presentation Cakes and Tortes: First place, Marilyn Gallardo of Pacifica High School, $1,000 scholarship, Best of Show award; Second place, Christian Dentzler of Mt. Diablo High School in Concord, $750 scholarship; Third place, Cindy Andrade of Banning High School in Banning, $500 scholarship
Culinary Arts Display E – Patisserie: First place, Michelle Martin of Wilcox High School in Santa Clara, chef coat; Second place, Katelyn Krause of San Juan High School in Sacramento; Third place, Claudia Castaneda of Mt. Diablo High School in Concord
Culinary Arts Display F – Art Display: First place, Nicholas Decocq of San Juan High School in Sacramento, $100, $1,00 scholarship, chef coat; Second place, Daniel Rieux of San Juan High School in Sacramento, $750 scholarship; Third place, Darryl Johnson of Mt. Diablo High School in Concord, $500 scholarship
Apparel Construction: First place, Britany Gomez of Ayala High School in Chino Hills, sewing machine, $100; Second place, Pabai Vang of Edison High School in Fresno $50; Third place, Malee Xiong of Las Plumas High School in Oroville
Fashion Design: First place, Philip Vo of Fountain Valley High School in Fountain Valley, $22,000 scholarship to Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising; Second place, Natalie Haro of Livermore High School in Livermore; Third place, Chantal Cheung of Westmoor High School in Daly City
Interior Design: First place, Jennifer Isago of Rowland High School in Rowland Heights, $22,000 scholarship to Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising; Second place, Maria Castrillo of Ayala High School in Chino Hills, $100; Third place, Jenna Ririe of Ayala High School in Chino Hills
Applied Technology: First place, Monica Vargas and Sarah Rosendahl of Chino High School of Chino, $50 each; Second place, Madelene Geledzhyan and Josh Cruz of Rowland High School in Rowland Heights.
Prepared Speech: First place, Mindi Miller of Folsom High School in Folsom, $100; Second place, Stella Sakhon of Ayala High School in Chino Hills; Third place, Jasmin Rangel of Edison High School in Fresno.
Child Development: First place, Karina Aguilar of Pitman High School in Turlock, $100; Second place, Tashena Polk of Eisenhower High School in Rialto; Third place, Vanessa Romero of Sanger High School in Sanger.
Energy & Resource Conservation: First place, Bianca Mayoral and Audrienne Salandan of Ayala High School in Chino Hills, $50 each; Second place, Milena Garrido and Briana McCloud of John F. Kennedy High School in Granada Hills
Nutrition Education: First place, Samantha Herrera and Cynthia Medina of Golden West High School in Visalia, $50 each; Second place, Amanda Chan and Lauren Kawawaki of Mills High School in San Mateo; Third place, Eduardo Navarro and Sara Magana of California High School in Whittier
Job Application & Interview: First place, Katherine Kim of Rowland High School in Rowland Heights, $1,000 scholarship; Second place, Mai May Vang of Oroville High School in Oroville, $750 scholarship; Third place, Noosha Saleminik of Ayala High School in Chino Hills, $500 scholarship
Teaching Careers: First place, Trista Cowlishaw of Apple Valley High School in Apple Valley, $100; Second place, Jacqueline Suaste of John F. Kennedy High School in Granada Hills,; Third place, Alex Flood of Morro Bay High School in Morro Bay.
Consumer Education: First place, Samantha Yang of Edison High School in Fresno, $100; Second place, Francisco Gutierrez of Golden West High School in Visalia; Third place, Kiranpreet Dhaliwal of Pitman High School in Turlock.
Salad Preparation: First place, Nancy Ballard of Silverado High School in Victorville, $100 and a chef coat; Second place, Cynthia Melchor of Eisenhower High School in Rialto, Third place, Lisa Walston of Eisenhower High School in Rialto.
Menu Planning & Table Display: First place, Lindsey Lowe of Edison High School in Fresno, $100; Second place, Vincent Zhao of Westmoor High School in Daly City; Third place, Celeste Cervantes of La Puente Valley Regional Occupations Program in La Puente.
Chapter Activities Manual: First place, Westmoor High School of Daly City, $100; Second place, Golden West High School of Visalia; Third place, Kern Valley High School of Lake Isabella.
Chapter Exhibit: First place, Big Valley High School of Bieber, $100: Second place, Las Plumas High School of Oroville, Third Place, Paramount High School of Downey.
Community Involvement: First place, Cesar E. Chavez High School of Delano, $100; Second place, Kern Valley High School of Lake Isabella
ADULT DIVISON
Culinary Arts Display F – Art Display: First place, Andy Bezgodov of San Juan High School in Sacramento; $100
JUNIOR DIVISON
Community Involvement: First place, Hoover Middle School in Lakewood, $100
Chapter Exhibit: First place, Alvarado Intermediate School in Rowland Heights, $100; Second place, Lompoc Valley Middle School in Lompoc
Chapter Activities Manual: First place, Ruth O. Harris Middle School in Colton, $100
Apparel Construction: First place, Joanna Guo of Alvarado Intermediate School in Rowland Heights, sewing machine, $100; Second place, Yamel Grado of Cesar E. Chavez High School in Delano
Menu Planning & Table Display: First place, Nou Vang of Edison High School in Fresno, $100; Second place, Sachie Kawachi of Rowland High School in Rowland Heights; Third place, Vicky Hung of Alvarado Intermediate School in Rowland Heights
Salad Preparation: First place, Matthew Johnson of Las Plumas High School in Oroville, $100; Second place, Avery Emlaw of San Juan High School in Sacramento; Third place, Amy Shinoki of Mills High School in San Mateo
Consumer Education: First place, Arturo Rodriguez of Ruth O. Harris Middle School in Colton, $100
Child Development: First place, Jean Philippe Cruz of Rowland High School in Rowland Heights, $100; Second place, Vivienne Barrientos of Alvarado Intermediate School in Rowland Heights
Prepared Speech: First place, Pamela Xu of Rowland High School in Rowland Heights, $100; Second place, Micah Van Setten of Ruth O. Harris Middle School in Colton
Job Application & Interview: First place, Paulina Lim of Rowland High School in Rowland Heights, $100; Second place, Hallie Zhang of Rowland High School in Rowland Heights; Third place, Kathryna Ang of Rowland High School in Rowland Heights
Nutrition Education: First place, Edith Castaneda and Elisa Cabronero of Ruth O. Harris Middle School in Colton, $50 each; Second place, Lily Lam and Mandy Cheung of Rowland High School in Rowland Heights
Interior Design: First place, En Lin of Rowland High School in Rowland Heights, $100; Second place, Lacey Wilde of Kern Valley High School in Lake Isabella; Third place, Amanda Kirshenmen of Kern Valley High School in Lake Isabella
Creed Recitation: First place, Amanda Jones of Los Molinos High School in Los Molinos, $100; Second place, Fernanda Lemus of Fresno High School in Fresno; Third place, Joanie Hampton of Redwood High School in Visalia
FHA-HERO is part of a national organization formed more than 50 years ago, which was formerly known as Future Homemakers of America, but is now called Family, Career and Community Leaders of America.
The “HERO” portion of the state organization’s name reflects a change in focus to career development and leadership, as it stands for Home Economics Related Occupations. Although most if not all FHA-HERO members will pursue careers outside their home, California organization leaders opted to keep FHA part of the name because of widespread familiarity with the organization.
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