Pioneer Valley High School Family, Career, Community, Leaders of America (FCCLA) students earned top honors during the Region 7 Spring Leadership meeting held recently the Panther campus.

Photos show a five-layer white cake decorated with red roses, as well as three clothing items and explanatory tri-boards. (Courtesy photo)
Competition areas included culinary arts, and apparel and construction sectors. (Courtesy photo)

At the meeting, students competed in a variety of Students Taking Action with Recognition (STAR) events, which focused on child development, culinary arts, and apparel and construction sectors. It was also attended by students and advisers from Hueneme and Adolfo Camarillo high schools
 
This year, Pioneer Valley had a record 23 students qualify to compete with their projects at the state level in April, according to Kelsey Dudding, FCCLA advisor and teacher.
 
Industry professionals volunteered their time to serve as judges for the events and provide feedback to the students to improve upon their projects before the next competition.

At the spring meeting, two Pioneer Valley students earned spots as a region officer for the next school year. Current sophomore Yaretzi Salazar will serve as the region 7 vice president, and sophomore Renata Castillo-Diaz as treasurer.

“I had a wonderful experience competing and getting to meet new people from other schools. I was able to learn new things and get feedback on my competition and how to improve. It was great,” said Marissa Dollinger, a 12th grader.

“It was a very successful day for PV,” said FCCLA teacher and advisor Jenn Montanez. “Not only did we host the meeting, but we had many students place in the top three in their events.

“Our students set such a wonderful example for all visiting schools. I am beyond proud of their hard work and commitment. I cannot wait to see them compete at the state level next.”

Here are the results:
1st – Lexy Garcia (Repurpose and Redesign), 2nd – Marissa Dollinger (Repurpose and Redesign), 1st – Gabrielle Diaz (Job Interview),  2nd – Odalis Deigo-Garcia (Job Interview), 3rd – Daniela Santiago (Job Interview), 1st – Jocelyn Cortez (Child Development), 1st – Alejandra Alvarado (Culinary Arts), 2nd – Erika Perez-Tosca (Culinary Arts), 3rd – Lizette Orocio-Perez (Culinary Arts), 1st – Stevie Robbins (Culinary Display – Wedding Cakes), 2nd – Luna Guzman-Lemus (Culinary Display – Wedding Cakes), 3rd – Johanna Bautista (Culinary Display – Wedding Cakes), 1st – Yaretzi Salazar (Fashion Construction – Level 2), 2nd – Valeria Alcala (Fashion Construction – Level 2), 1st –  Esmeralda Ramriez (Fashion Construction- Level 3),  2nd – Ivan Navarrete (Fashion Construction – Level 3), 3rd – Selene Alcorta (Fashion Construction – Level 3), 2nd – Jessica Serna, Adilene Espinoza, Arhianna Ramriez (Focus on Children), 3rd – Lesly Ortiz, Nanci Mejia, Kimberly Xocua (Focus on Children).
 
The SMJUHSD has about 40 Career Technical Education Pathways and more than 25 industry partners.