Nathania Cisneroz, Regan Hartranft, Bonnie Hunt, and Audrey Pierce, students at San Saba High School, returned Friday from the Family, Career and Community Leaders of America’s (FCCLA) 2008 National Leadership Meeting in Orlando, Florida, held July 14-18.

Regan, Bonnie, and Audrey, Texas state winners in the STAR (Students Taking Action with Recognition) Events contest, received a gold medal in the Focus on Children, junior category, one of 16 national STAR Events available to FCCLA students. The medals were presented at a recognition session honoring all participants at the Orange County Convention Center on Thursday, July 17. This is the third year that the San Saba FCCLA chapter has had a team to win a gold medal at the national level.

The STAR team members will be sophomores at San Saba High School next year. Regan is the daughter of John and Debra Hartranft. Bonnie is the daughter of Oralia Hunt and Buster Hunt. Audrey is the daughter of Jan Pierce and Craig Pierce.

Nathania Cisneroz, daughter of Ramiro and Maria Cisneroz, is the Texas Vice President of Public Relations for the 2008-2009 school year. Nathania participated in Phase I of the FCCLA Ultimate State Officer Academy (USA) Leadership Training. This four-part powerful leadership development and certification program focuses on team building, service, professionalism, planning, communication, networking, public policy and advocacy training, and ethics. FCCLA state officers who complete all four phases become certified FCCLA ultimate leaders. In addition, Nathania, assisted in the leadership of sessions attended by the 320 Texas delegates during the national meeting. Nathania will be a senior at SSHS.

In addition to conference sessions, the Texas delegates participated in leadership workshops, toured Kennedy Space Center, attended Universal Studios, Disney World, and enjoyed a dinner together at Bubba Gump’s Restaurant.

More than 5,000 members, advisers, alumni, and guests from across the nation attended the meeting. Nearly 2,500 students advanced from the local, regional, and state level of STAR Events to the national meeting. Participation in national programs and chapter activities helps members become strong leaders in their families, careers, and communities.

The San Saba students were accompanied to Orlando by Jane Carter, FCCLA advisor, Carl Carter, and Oralia Hunt.