Vandegrift Family, Community and Career Leaders of America (FCCLA) students recently demonstrated exceptional talents at the State Star Events Competition held in Dallas, TX from April 11-14. Among the multitude of teams representing schools from across Texas, the Vandegrift students stood out with their remarkable skills, securing three spots in the coveted top 5.
“I am planning on going to school for interior design, and I want to pursue interior design/architecture as my career, so doing this project has been a great experience for me,” junior Brooke Boykin said. “I learned a lot about what it’s like to work as an interior designer and how to execute and manage a project of this scale.”
The prospect of advancing to the National FCCLA Conference, set to take place in Seattle, WA, this coming June, adds an extra layer of excitement and motivation for the successful teams.
“Our journey to the state competition has been filled with challenges, but seeing our hard work pay off on such a big stage is incredibly fulfilling,” junior Ally McDonald said. “As we prepare for the national competition, we’re channeling our enthusiasm into even more focused preparation.”
In the Focus on Children (Level 3) category, sophomore Madeline Hodges and Ally McDonald held the first place position, showcasing their exceptional understanding and dedication to child development and welfare. Sydney Sims secured second place in the Fashion Design (Level 2) category, while Brooke Boykin impressed the judges and earned third place in the Interior Design (Level 3) category with her innovative approach and attention to detail.
“I participated in the interior design event,” Boykin said. “My project’s name was the Heart of Texas Schnauzer Rescue. I created my renderings on SketchUp, and I also designed a custom wallpaper and custom wall graphics for the space.” Boykin spent approximately three months on her project, meticulously crafting every detail from material and furniture selection to 3D modeling in SketchUp. “There was a lot of research involved,” she explained. “I needed to familiarize myself with all of the standards for a dog rescue, as well as dog psychology.”
The achievements of these students not only highlight their individual talents but also underscore the collaboration and support within the organization. As they set their sights on the national stage, the entire school community rallies behind them, offering encouragement and well-wishes for their continued success.
“Every step of this journey, from brainstorming ideas to perfecting our presentation, has been teamwork and commitment,” sophomore Sydney Sims said. “I was able to use all of the resources from my fashion design class, including all of the material samples that [fashion design teacher] Mrs. Bentley has, and the references to previous projects. We’re ready to represent Vandegrift with pride and determination at the national competition.”
