Matthews students bring home medals and national qualifying slots from FCCLA; sports and students lauded

The school board on April 21 celebrated student achievements across FCCLA and winter athletics.

Mrs. Michelle Williams and Miss Hayes described taking 25 middle- and high-school students to the state FCCLA conference, returning with five gold, three silver and three bronze medals; 11 students qualified for nationals and several others are alternates. Projects included Food Innovations (a crab-pepper popper prototype), advocacy to install convex mirrors at a safety hazard (Richardson's Corner), and community-service portfolios that produced pillowcases and care packages for local charities.

"They put Matthews on the map," Williams told the board, who applauded staff and the booster club for fundraising and volunteer support. The division said 11 students are currently scheduled to compete in nationals July 6–10 in Washington, D.C., and the district is continuing fundraising to cover travel and registration costs.

Separately, athletic recognitions noted solid seasons for basketball, cheer, indoor track, wrestling (regional champions; state runner-up Ivan Shyel committed to Millersville University) and an inaugural combined winter-sports banquet with about 200 attendees. Coaches, booster club volunteers and support staff (including lunch staff and bus drivers) were publicly thanked.

The board offered congratulations and discussed booster-based fundraising and potential booster programs to support travel costs for national competitions.

No board action was required; the segment served as recognitions and community updates.