The Family, Career and Community Leaders of America chapter at Desert Sunrise High School returned from the State Leadership Conference with a historic achievement: its first-ever state officer and a collection of medals that reflect months of hard work.
Held March 4 through 6 in Tucson, the conference brought together student leaders from across the state to compete in STAR (Students Taking Action with Recognition) events, which highlight skills in leadership, career readiness and community engagement. Eight students from Desert Sunrise’s Education Professions program participated, earning seven gold medals and one bronze.
Among the standout moments was the election of senior Alexa Gomez Fuller as Arizona FCCLA’s vice president of public relations, the first time a Desert Sunrise student has earned a state office in any Career and Technical Student Organization.
“Alexa went through a rigorous application and interview process to earn this position, and we are incredibly proud of her,” said FCCLA advisor and Education Professions teacher Kate Dove. “It’s a huge milestone for our program and a testament to her leadership.”
This isn’t the first time Gomez Fuller and other students competed. She was also on a winning Future Cities team in 2020, won an EdRising competition in 2023 and Gomez Fuller and other students won similar FCCLA competitions last year as well.
This year, students competed individually and in teams on projects tied to their career pathways. Senior Daisy Arroyo earned gold for her “Teacher Train” project, which included observing a second-grade classroom at Saddleback Elementary School.
Gomez Fuller and junior Jayda Kuehnl teamed up for a child-focused event they called the “Jingle Jamboree,” hosting interactive learning stations for second graders.
Sophomore Adrian Gomez earned gold for his project on integrating educational technology in the classroom, researching apps that support student learning.
“It’s cool because all the projects are so different,” Dove said. “They get to pick something that really speaks to them personally, which makes the experience even more meaningful.”
Other medalists included sophomore McKayla Johnson-Winfield, who focused on early childhood development, and Aiyannah Cuba, who designed a developmental toy from scratch for her “Toys That Teach” project. Senior Kimmy Hoang presented on leadership, drawing from her involvement in numerous school clubs.
“All of these students have poured themselves into their work since November,” said Dove. “As their teacher, to see them start from an idea and then watch it come to life—especially with this level of success, it’s incredibly fulfilling.”
Desert Sunrise will continue its FCCLA journey this summer as five students prepare to compete at the FCCLA National Leadership Conference, set for July in Orlando, Florida.
“It’s been amazing to watch how far they’ve come,” said Dove, who joined the school just over a year ago. “Last year we were proud to bring home a few medals. This year, we’ve broken records. I can’t wait to see what they do next.”
FCCLA is a national nonprofit career and technical student organization that supports youth in Family and Consumer Sciences education. By fostering real-world experience, FCCLA promises to “help students develop into strong family members, wage earners and community leaders.”
