(St. Leon, IN) – The 2026 Indiana FCCLA State Leadership Conference took place February 26–27 at the Horizon Convention Center in Muncie.
The event embraced the state theme, “Ignite Your Leadership.” Students truly embodied that theme as they showcased their skills, dedication, and passion for leadership throughout the two-day event.
The conference kicked off with the opening session featuring keynote speaker Bill Cordes, who motivated attendees with his message on personal growth and lifelong learning — which organizers say perfectly aligns with the theme of igniting leadership potential.
The East Central High School FCCLA Chapter has leaders, such as Abby Cross, who served as Indiana FCCLA State President; State Vice President of Development Macy Lyness, and Parker Simpson who served as Vice President of Membership this year.
At the conference, East Central FCCLA was recognized as a Gold Honor Chapter, one of only nine chapters across the state to receive this distinction. The chapter also earned the 30×30 Award, 50×50 Award, and the All School Affiliation Membership Award.
With more than 70 members competing in Students Taking Action with Recognition (STAR) Events, East Central 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), and Emerson Farricker (Recycle & Redesign, Level 2).
Gold Medal National Alternates
Alli Holland (Focus on Children, Level 3), and 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), and 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.
Special Honors
Carson Scudder received the prestigious Indiana FCCLA Ultimate Leader Degree, the highest honor awarded to student members at the state level, recognizing exceptional leadership and service.
Abby Cross, East Central senior, received the Indiana FCCLA Human Services Pathway Scholarship to further her education.
Ashley McConnell was honored with the Indiana FCCLA Distinguished Service Award. She has served as Lead Evaluator for the ProStart Management Competition for the past five years, demonstrating exceptional dedication and leadership.
Brenda Osman received the President’s Award from Indiana FCCLA State President Abby Cross in recognition of her commitment to student leadership development and Family and Consumer Sciences education.
2026–2027 Indiana FCCLA State Officers
East Central High School announces four newly-elected State Officers from the local chapter:
● Parker Simpson, 1st Vice President
● Aislyn Ankenman, Vice President of Advocacy
● Macy Lyness, Vice President of Development
● Hailey Rack, Vice President of STAR Events
These students will represent Indiana FCCLA during the 2026–2027 school year.
East Central FCCLA chapter members are extending appreciation to advisers Brenda Osman, Ashley McConnell, and Josie Bonilla.
