East Central FCCLA Shines at State Conference

The event took place February 26-27 at the Horizon Convention Center in Muncie.

Photo provided.

(St. Leon, Ind.) - The 2026 Indiana FCCLA State Leadership Conference took place February 26-27 at the Horizon Convention Center in Muncie. 

This year's conference embraced the state theme, "Ignite Your Leadership." Students embodied that theme as they showcased their skills, dedication, and passion for leadership throughout the two-day event.

The conference kicked off with an inspiring opening session featuring keynote speaker Bill Cordes, who motivated attendees with his powerful message on personal growth and lifelong learning — perfectly aligning with the theme of igniting leadership potential.

East Central High School FCCLA has great leaders themselves. State Officer Abby Cross, served as Indiana FCCLA State President, along with Macy Lyness as Vice President of Development and Parker Simpson as Vice President of Membership. 

At the event, the East Central High School FCCLA Chapter was recognized as a Gold Honor Chapter, one of only nine chapters across the state to receive this distinction. The chapter also earned the 30x30 Award, 50x50 Award, and the All-School Affiliation Membership Award.

With more than 70 members competing in Students Taking Action with Recognition (STAR) Events, East Central proudly earned:

• 51 Gold Medals
• 20 Silver Medals
• 1 Bronze Medal
• 55 National Qualifiers
• 4 National Alternates

Gold Medal National Qualifiers

• Career Investigation (Level 2): Addisyn Evans
• Chapter Service Display (Level 2): Callie Barrett, Addelyn Bittner, Kyleigh Dudley, Kelsey Kaiser, Ashley Kuhn, Charley O’Rourke
• Chapter Service Display (Level 3): Savannah Campbell, Allyson Frazier, Isabella Nichols, Caitlin Reniff, Dorothy Schwab
• Chapter Service Portfolio (Level 3): Macy Lyness, Josie Wolf
• Focus on Children (Level 2): Alaina Cookendorfer, Leah Fox, Claire Lyness, Briella Wilhelm
• Focus on Children (Level 3): Lexi Babb, Madi Brown, Audrey Bumgartner, Elle Jankvosky, Courtney Lewis, Elly Niese, Brooke Williams
• Food Innovation (Level 2): Natalie Kirchgassner
• Interior Design (Level 3): Riley Craven, Madalynn Kyle, Madalyn Reddell, Madi Ruwe
• Interpersonal Communications (Level 2): Sophia Bullock, Grace Kirchgassner, Addison Quillen, Emma Terry
• Interpersonal Communications (Level 3): Melissa Ciserneros-Hernandez, Laney Stutz
• National Programs in Action (Level 2): Dean Dawley, Ella Stenger, Dakota Dawley
• National Programs in Action (Level 3): Savannah Clary, Emily Florence, Gwenevere McConnoughey
• Professional Presentation (Level 3): Chloe Hensley, Hailey Rack, Parker Simpson
• Sports Nutrition (Level 2): Taylor Gavin, Hailey Reniff
• Sports Nutrition (Level 3): Abby Cross, Autumn Ransick

Silver Medalists who also qualified for Nationals include Payton Boone and Eliza Littleton (Chapter Service Display, Level 3); Reagan Hollis, Taylor Kelley, and Mya Shelton (Professional Presentation, Level 3); Emerson Farricker (Recycle & Redesign, Level 2).

Gold Medal National Alternates

• Alli Holland (Focus on Children, Level 3) Emily Stenger (Job Interview, Level 3)

Silver Medal National Alternates

• Amia Ketchem and Molly O’Connor (Chapter Service Portfolio, Level 3)

Additional Silver Medalists

Tatum Johnson, Emilee Kist, and Kali Ruehl (Baking & Pastry, Level 3) Aislyn Ankenman (Chapter Service Display, Level 2) Phoebe Gillispie and Emmarie Nowlin (Fashion Design, Level 3) Emily Mitts and Carson Scudder (National Programs in Action, Level 3) Tatum Johnson, Gabe Mondal, Evan Rumpke, and Jacob Scudder (ProStart, Level 3)

Bronze Medal

• Samarah Seay (Entrepreneurship, Level 2)

State Project Awards

Several students were recognized with State Project Awards:

Carson Scudder earned Bronze in Career Exploration. Josie Wolf earned Silver in FCCLA in Action: Stand Up. Brooke Williams and Hailey Rack earned Silver in FCCLA in Action: Families First. Isabella Nichols earned Gold in FCCLA in Action: Community Service. Madison Brown and Elle Jankovsky earned Bronze in FCCLA in Action: FACTS. Abby Cross and Allyson Frazier earned Silver in FCCLA in Action: Student Body. Chloe Hensley earned Silver in FCCLA in Action: Financial Fitness. Allyson Frazier earned Gold in the SMILE Project.