HATHORNE – Superintendent Heidi Riccio announced that Essex Tech students who are members of the Essex Chapter FFA received individual and team honors at the Massachusetts State FFA Convention, and that a student and an alumna will serve as leaders in the state organization for 2022-2023.
Eva Scollo, a 2021 graduate from Wakefield who studied Equine Science, will serve as State FFA President. Kayla Dundon, a senior from Burlington studying Companion Animal, will serve as State FFA Vice President.
Essex Tech students and advisors participated in the annual convention, which was held this year in Sturbridge from March 16-18.
Essex Chapter FFA members also fared well in individual and team competitions.
• Nathan Hammerschmitt Le Gal, a junior from Lynn studying Environmental Science, won individual first place honors in Agriscience Fair-Social Systems event and will compete at the National FFA Convention in October.
• Savannah White, a junior from Melrose studying Veterinary Science, won individual first-place honors in Employability Skills Leadership Development Event (LDE) and also qualified to compete at the Nationals.
• Seniors Shealagh Crowley of Woburn and Amelia Fisher of Andover, junior Murphy Langevin of Somerville, and sophomore Kyleigh Lane of Beverly, earned first place in the Horse Judging Career Development Event (CDE) and will be competing at Nationals in October. Crowley also earned an individual second-place finish.
• Colleen Kielbania, a freshman from Ipswich studying Sustainable Horticulture, won individual second-place honors in the Creed Speaking LDE, in which first-year students memorize the FFA Creed and present it to the members and judges.
• Four sophomores studying Veterinary Science – Sofia Dibattista-Kodis of Swampscott, Sam Fecteau of Lynn, Samantha Lord of Danvers, and Jillian Tanner of Lynnfield – earned a second-place finish in the Agricultural Sales CDE.
• Four seniors studying Sustainable Horticulture – Emily Belski of Tewksbury, Kaleigh Breen of Lynn, Sandra Dennis of Haverhill, and Adriana Neville of Malden – finished third in the Floriculture CDE.
• Langevin won seventh place in the individual Horse Showmanship competition, while Fisher finished 10th. On the B team, Lane won second place in the individual competition, while sophomore Delia Beaupre of Methuen finished fourth. Beaupre, Crowley, Fisher, and Lane study Equine. Langevin studies Arboriculture.
• The Veterinary Science team – seniors Renee Cianciulli of Peabody and Carmella Thompson of Wilmington, Giavanna Smith of Revere, and sophomore Ryan Ciulla of North Reading – finished second overall in the Veterinary Science competition. Cianciulli and Ciulla both won a bronze medal in the individual scoring.
“The Ag Sales CDE was an experience that taught me useful skills I can use in a future agricultural career, as well as making wonderful memories I will never forget and love to do again,” Dibattista-Kodis said.
“State Convention is a favorite way to wrap up all the hard work our students have put into their CDEs and LDEs, taking the knowledge from their classroom and applying it in “real world” experiences,” Advisor Clarice Menesale said. “It felt amazing to be back in person this year, a new experience for almost all who attended.”
Superintendent Riccio wishes to thank the chapter’s advisors, Heather Hume, Clarice Menesale and Jillian Plante, as well as the Career Development Event Coaches Linda Corson, Emma Gosselin, Joyce Kimani, and Rebecca Smith for their dedication to the FFA program and commitment to students.
“Congratulations to Eva and Kayla for their elections, and to all of our competition winners and participants,” Superintendent Riccio said. “Our FFA members are learning job and life skills that will be with them forever.”
