The Grant County Board of Education is happy to recognize three students upon their outstanding performances at the National FCCLA STAR Events competition in Nashville, Tennessee, this past summer. Miss Olivia Cahill (currently a Senior), Miss Hayley Leach (currently a Sophomore), and Miss Emily Samuel (2013 graduate) each medaled at the national Family, Career and Community Leaders of America event held July 8-9, 2013.
Each of these three young ladies earned the right to participate in the FCCLA Nationals based upon their first (Cahill and Leach) and second (Samuel) place state finishes in STAR Events Competition held March 25 - 27, 2013, at the Galt House in Louisville, Kentucky. The national convention is a major event with thousands of members, advisers, alumni and guests attending each year. Approximately 3,600 students had advanced from local, regional, and state STAR Events to the 2013 national competition.
While in Nashville, Olivia Cahill won gold -- and the third highest overall score in her category -- for her Hospitality, Recreation, and Tourism project. Her third place finish has subsequently resulted in a $5,000 scholarship award from Cottey College and a $10,000 scholarship offer from Sullivan University!
Hayley Leach won gold for her project on autism and bullying in the Illustrated Talk category. She has taken her project on the road to raise awareness about autism and the effects of bullying among middle school students.
Emily Samuel took home a silver medal for her Recycle and Redesign project. She designed a prom dress out of recycled denim that her family was no longer wearing. Miss Samuel is currently attending Eastern Kentucky University.
The Grant County Schools, together with Advisers Anna Sullinger and Whitney Hilterbran, are incredibly proud of these students and how they represented Grant County High School and the state of Kentucky at national competition. Congratulations to all!