What an incredible week at the FCCLA National Leadership Conference in Washington, D.C.!

Our Mena FCCLA members represented Mena Public Schools with excellence through competition, leadership, volunteer service, and professionalism. We could not be more proud of each and every student who traveled to our nation’s capital and demonstrated what it means to be a Bearcat.

A special congratulations to Mena High School’s Makinnley Vega, who earned 3rd place in the Nation in AI for Impact!

Our Mena Middle School competitors also had an outstanding showing. Jenna Williams & Averie Martin (Focus on Children), Avori Gortemiller & Macy Flores (Hospitality, Tourism & Recreation), Addison Emmitte (Public Policy Advocate), and Melanie Cude & Serenity Hogan (Sustainability Challenge) all placed in the Top 10 in the Nation and had the honor of walking across the national stage. Every one of our competitors earned Gold or Silver ratings in their respective events—a tremendous accomplishment!

Beyond competition, our students experienced a week filled with unforgettable learning opportunities. A highlight of the trip was touring the U.S. Capitol with former Bearcat Travis Thrailkill, who graciously shared his workplace with us and treated our entire group to lunch. We are so thankful for his generosity and the opportunity he gave our students.

Throughout the week, our chapter visited the White House, Lincoln Memorial, Jefferson Memorial, Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial, Vietnam Veterans Memorial, Korean War Veterans Memorial, U.S. Marine Corps War Memorial, the Smithsonian National Museum of American History, National Museum of Natural History, National Air and Space Museum, National Museum of the American Indian, the United States Botanic Garden, and the Smithsonian National Zoo. These experiences created memories and learning opportunities that will last a lifetime.

This amazing journey for our 17 students would not have been possible without the incredible parents who gave up an entire week to chaperone, volunteer, encourage, and care for our students. From the bottom of my heart, thank you to Charmaine Martin, Cassondra Gortemiller, Ashton Herod, Tiffany Williams, and Malani Vega. Your willingness to serve made this trip a success, and I am beyond grateful for each of you.

Finally, we want to extend our deepest appreciation to the businesses, organizations, and community members whose generous support helped make this trip possible. A heartfelt thank you to Farm Bureau, Union Bank, Nidec, Re-Pops, and the many other sponsors, donors, families, and supporters who invested in our students. Because of your generosity, these young leaders had the opportunity to compete on the national stage, explore our nation’s capital, and gain experiences that will impact them for years to come.

Thank you for believing in our students and in the mission of Mena FCCLA. We are incredibly proud of this group and excited to see what they accomplish next.