El Camino Junior High is celebrating the accomplishments of its students who competed this past weekend in the Family, Career and Community Leaders of America (FCCLA) California State Competition.

Going up against middle schools from across California, El Camino students stood out among more than 800 high school and middle school participants at the Riverside competition.

“This year marked El Camino Junior High’s first year participating in the competition, making these achievements even more remarkable,” school officials said.

“Students dedicated countless hours — day and night — preparing for their events, demonstrating exceptional commitment, creativity and perseverance,” they said.

The hard work paid off with several top placements at the middle-school level across multiple competitive categories:
• Alex Oliva Sanchez — 4th Place, Menu Planning and Table Display
• Perla Orduna — 2nd Place (Team), Repurpose and Redesign
• Itzel Santiago — 1st Place, Repurpose and Redesign
• Itzairy Gracida — 2nd Place (Team), Repurpose and Redesign
• Sharit Madrigal Morales — 3rd Place, Confections and Pastries
• Kaylee Barajas-Mendoza — 2nd Place, Disney Cakes
• Yarely Ayala Romero — 1st Place, Disney Cakes
• Nanci Yecenia Lopez Lopez — 1st Place, Interior Design

El Camino Junior High Principal Alex Jauregui praised the students for their dedication:

“We are incredibly proud of every one of these students for their effort, talent and achievements,” Jauregui said. “Their success reflects not only their hard work, but also the strength of our programs and the support of our staff and families.

“These students represented El Camino Junior High with pride and excellence, showcasing the incredible talent and potential within the Titan community.

“Their success serves as an inspiration to their peers and highlights the impact of student leadership and career-focused learning opportunities.”