Students from Shelby County High School and Columbiana Middle School earned silver and gold medals at the Family, Career and Community Leaders of America’s National Leadership Conference, which was held virtually this year. The seven students from SCHS and CMS competed in STAR events after qualifying at the state conference in March.

SCHS Freshman Denisen Justice earned a gold medal in Food Innovations for creating a vegan lunch entree of squash soup and Indian bread.

CMS eighth-grader Sarah Elizabeth Shelton earned a gold medal in the category of Career Investigations as she explored the steps it would take to pursue a career in pediatrics.

CMS eighth-grader Anahi Portillo earned a silver medal in National Programs in Action for a program she helped put together for her peers on the dangers of Juuling.

CMS eighth-graders Dakota Feneck and Lorelei Young earned silver medals in Event Management for reorganizing a school dance.

CMS seventh-grade students Izzy Cox and Riley Barber earned silver medals in Focus on Children for their work starting a reading partnership at Shelby Elementary.

The teacher sponsors were Alana Ray at SCHS and Samantha Pursley, Patsy Casella, and Jason Mayfield at CMS.

Due to the pandemic and extended school closure this spring, students were not able to meet together by the late May deadline so they worked over phone and video conferencing to complete their work for nationals.

“These kids were exceptional to put in the effort during COVID-19,” said CMS sponsor Jason Mayfield. “We’re one of two middle schools to even qualify for nationals from Alabama and the only one in the Birmingham region.”