The award recognizes chapters for growing leaders, building communities and strengthening agriculture. Agricultural sciences teacher and FFA advisor Amanda Spacek said students applied for the National Chapter Award in April. After the chapter advanced from the state level, she said, "we were selected as a three star national chapter."
The chapter took six students to the convention, and some of them went on to become chapter officers and committee chairmen. They toured industry sites, sat in on sessions, visited with colleges and agricultural employers, and met FFA members from across the country. Ryan Pieniazek also received an honorary American Degree.
Spacek said the six who traveled "truly understood the work that went into earning that award" and played a big role in the recognition. Sophomore and chapter treasurer Grayson Hayes put it plainly. "I was thrilled," he said, describing the jump from a good showing at state to a national nod. The recognition also gave students motivation to keep building the chapter and aim for future accomplishments.
Several of those six students helped found the chapter before their high school even opened.