Rockingham County Public Schools students earned top honors at the 2026 Family, Career and Community Leaders of America (FCCLA) National Leadership Conference, bringing home multiple national placements, gold medals, and silver medals while competing against the nation's best student leaders July 6–10 in Washington, D.C.
Students from Elkton Middle School, East Rockingham High School, Spotswood High School, Turner Ashby High School, and Wilbur Pence Middle School represented RCPS in a variety of competitive events focused on leadership, career readiness, communication, service, and technical skills.
Among the district's highest achievements:
Jacob Myers of Elkton Middle School earned a Gold Medal and placed second in the nation in RED Talks on Education.
Jaelyn Moneymaker of East Rockingham High School received a Gold Medal and placed second nationally in AI for Impact (Level 3).
Ezama Harris and Leila Thyson of Turner Ashby High School earned a Gold Medal and finished seventh in the nation in Professional Presentation.
Berea Lam of Wilbur Pence Middle School received a Gold Medal and placed ninth nationally in Repurpose and Redesign.
Collins Dearing, Sophia Good, and Elizabeth Manley of Elkton Middle School earned a Gold Medal and were recognized as Top 10 finalists in Sports Nutrition.
Several additional RCPS students earned gold and silver medals during the national competition:
Elkton Middle School
Barbara Ballen and Faithlynn Troutman: Entrepreneurship – Silver Medal
Kailyn Mawyer: Professional Presentation – Silver Medal
East Rockingham High School
Ariana Stroop represented RCPS and Virginia as a Virginia State FCCLA Officer while competing in RED Talks for Education (Level 3).
Hayden Paulette, Alessa Hensley, and Addyson Saum – Chapter Service Project Display (Level 3) – Gold Medal
Spotswood High School
Matthew Hulvey and Nathaniel Uribe: Sustainability Challenge – Gold Medal
Turner Ashby High School
Morgan Trout and Layla Leap: Hospitality, Tourism and Recreation – Gold Medal
Kaylee Barr and Callie Pence: Interior Design – Gold Medal
Maggie Cullers and Brynna Michael-Lee: Professional Presentation – Silver Medal
Emma Light served on the Nominating Committee and as the 9th Voting Delegate during the conference.
FCCLA is a national Career and Technical Student Organization that helps students develop leadership skills while preparing for careers in family and consumer sciences, education, hospitality, human services, business, and related fields. The National Leadership Conference brings together thousands of students from across the country to compete, network, and showcase their talents.