Students earn CTE accolades at state and national conferences

Career and Technical Education (CTE) students earned multiple accolades competing in state conferences for Distributive Education Clubs of America (DECA), Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA), Family, Career and Community Leaders of America (FCCLA), Health Occupation Students of America (HOSA), and SkillsUSA.  Dysart High School Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps (JROTC) students wrapped up the year with several notable honors.

Four students from Shadow Ridge and Willow Canyon High School earned top ten recognition at the 2025 DECA International Career Development Conference (ICDC) in Orlando, Florida on April 29.  The top 20 of each competition make it to the finals, and the top ten are then recognized on stage with medals.  The top three are awarded with the highly coveted DECA glass trophy.  Of the tens of thousands of students who participated, there were 13 top ten finalists from Arizona, four of whom attend Dysart schools.

Ayden Jo, Yll Musliu, and Gracen Robinson from Shadow Ridge High School were top ten finalists in the Virtual Business Retail competitive event.  They earned top two in the Western Region to qualify and then competed in two live rounds at the conference.  Adeline Feby John Felix from Willow Canyon High School earned a top ten recognition in the Principles of Entrepreneurship competitive event.

The FBLA State Leadership Conference was held from April 1-3 in Tucson, Arizona.  The event allows students to advance to the national conference, compete in various competitions, participate in workshops, and run for state office for FBLA.  FBLA inspires and prepares students to become community-minded business leaders in a global society through relevant career preparation and leadership experiences.

Multiple Valley Vista High School students placed in the top five for their respective categories.  Michael Bresfield, Gabe De La Garza, Kayla Fisher-Happe, Jahniya Franklin, John Maley, Gabriel Martin, Genesis Martinez, Eduardo Martinez-Tostado, Veronica Rodriguez, James Stinett, and Jade Thomas all placed in the top five.  Makala Langub, Olias Ramirez, and Vanessa Yaryan placed first in the Digital Animation category.  Veronica Rodriguez received first place for State Journalism, and Victoria Rodriguez placed first for the State Intro to FBLA.

The FCCLA State Leadership Conference was held on March 4-6, 2025, in Tucson, Arizona.   The competition allows students to compete in over 30 different events, qualify for the National Leadership Conference in San Diego, and network with members across Arizona.  FCCLA offers members the opportunity to expand their leadership potential and develop skills for life - planning, goal setting, problem-solving, decision making, and interpersonal communication - all necessary within the home and workplace.  FCCLA is unique among youth organizations because its programs are planned and run by members.

The following Shadow Ridge High School students received medals in the FCCLA Students Taking Action with Recognition (STAR) Events: Joseph Behner and Rylee Meek earned bronze; Ava Farmer, Ella Kinneberg, Katelyn Martinez, Alyssa Moore, and Kelley Mills earned silver; and Juliette Hansom, Liana Vargas, and Remie Whitt received gold medals.

Additionally, Shadow Ridge High School students were recognized in the Arizona Proficiency Events at the conference: Rylee Meek and Remie Whitt placed third.  Ava Farmer, Ella Kinneber, and Katelyn Martinez placed first.

Valley Vista High School students also received medals in the STAR Events at this year’s FCCLA State Leadership Conference: Cadence Arnold received a bronze medal; Bliss Barham, Jailey Giles, Grant Hornstein, Kaden Kramer, Kaleb Mitri, and Dominic Sindle received silver;  Clara Dobson received a gold medal.

HOSA provides students with an opportunity to participate in a variety of opportunities, ranging from leadership, school and community service, and healthcare-related competitions.  Students are able to participate both in and out of the classroom, attend a variety of leadership training conferences, and compete at the regional, state, and international levels.

The Arizona State Leadership Conference is a competitive event that provides HOSA students the opportunity to apply skills they’ve learned in their CTE courses.  Students who place in the top three in their event qualify for the International Conference.  Shadow Ridge students, Olivia Bernard, Leah Giersh, and Anna Weissinger, placed second in their events.  Valley Vista students, Xavier Ceja, Alexander Flores Sandoval, Kyle Hudson, Abigail Johanning, Roman Kelly, and Lara Washington, all qualified for the International Conference.

The Army Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps (J.R.O.T.C.) program helps prepare high school students for various responsible leadership jobs of choice in the civilian workforce, private enterprise, or military service.  The mission of JROTC is “to motivate young people to be better citizens.”

Dysart High School JROTC students received the following recognitions:

• Alexander Bringman - National Sojourners Award
  
• Madilyn Cortez Pantaleon - Military Order of the Purple Heart Award and the Non-Commissioned Officers Association Award
  
• Alina Cwik - Sons of the American Revolution Award and the Veterans of Foreign War Academic Excellence Award
  
• Daniel Ellyson - Sons of the Union Veterans of Civil War Award
  
• Sanae Hayes - Veterans of Foreign War Military Award
  
• `Annaleigh Juillerat - Daedalian JROTC Achievement Award
• Jenna Linde - American Legion Scholastic Excellence Award and the Military Officers' Association Award
  
• Brea Mitchell - Women's Army Corps Veterans' Association Award
  
• Antonio Morales - Reserve Officers Association Award and the Veterans of Foreign War Most Improvement Award
  
• Christopher Pickens - The Scottish Rite of Freemasonry JROTC Award
  
• Bianca Puente - Military Order of the World Wars Award
  
• Kaitlyn Shiffer - American Legion Military Excellence Award and the Daughters of the American Revolution Award
  
• Kenneth Stephenson - American Veterans Award
  
• Richard Trejo - Association of United States Army Award
  
• Shane Wilson - Sons of the Confederate Veterans of Civil War Award
  

SkillsUSA provides educational programs, events, and competitions that support career and technical education to ensure America has a skilled workforce.  The SkillsUSA Leadership and Skills Conference was held on April 22-23 this year.

Dysart High School had three students, Abdullah Abdulsalam, Grace Brennan, and Alexander Pupo, place third for the American Spirit category.  Mikaela Acosta, Julian Armenta, Andrea Dorantes, Logan Gonzales Coronel, Zion Green, and Ian Morton, also from Dysart High School, placed third for Business Procedure.

Several Shadow Ridge students placed in the top three in several categories.  Lawson Bush and Avery Hernandez placed third for animation while Clarie Harrison placed third for t-shirt design.  Chase Boyer and Madison Perrigo both placed second for animation.  Xzavier Hudson and Alaric Santiago placed first in game design, and Annabelle Salerno also placed first in t-shirt design.

Parker Anderson, Samuel Kau, Tiffany Proctor, and Jasmine Rafnson, students from Willow Canyon High School, all received second place for stagecraft design.  Tiffany Proctor was also elected to be a State Officer for SkillsUSA.