Annual Winnisquam FFA Awards Night notes student achievement

TILTON — Over 100 guests attended the 20th Annual Winnisquam FFA Awards Night on May 25 to cheer on students of agricultural education from high schools across the Lakes Region as they were recognized for their achievements in agriculture, education and leadership. Attendees at the yearly event, held in the Winnisquam High School cafetorium, were witness to numerous student achievement accolades, adult appreciation awards and FFA members’ speeches.

The top students in each agriculture class received Career Development Awards for the portfolios they developed which detail hours worked, money earned and skills developed through a job or home-based project. In the Agricultural Science & Technology classes, bronze Career Development medals were awarded to Victoria Laporte, Emily Mooney and Laura May Swain, while Madisyn Skeats and Matthew Jarvis received silver and Sabrina Bellerose and Jevanie Semerzier earned gold. In the Animal & Plant Science course, the bronze medal was presented to Kirsten Frender with Autumn Chaffee accepting silver and Cianna Carey taking gold. In the Natural Resources class, senior Kate Merrill went home with a bronze medal while Brian Scacheri took silver and Mackenzie Wallace was awarded gold.

Several scholarships were presented, including the Seth Tilton-Fogg Memorial Award, which was given to Sabrina Bellerose. The National FFA Foundation’s Built Ford Tough Scholarships, from Grappone Automotive Group in Concord and AutoServ in Tilton were awarded to Kay Foster and Caroline Crouch. Bellerose was also named Runner Up FFA Member of the Year, while Laura May Swain was winner of the coveted Member of the Year title.

The Honorary Chapter FFA Degree was conferred on Winnisquam High School science teacher Diane Tandy and the Ag Center’s Program Assistant Kim Foley in recognition of their support of students and teachers. FFA Chapter officers for the 2017 – 18 year were also announced as follows: President, Victoria Laporte; Co-Vice Presidents Madisyn Skeats & Kaley Colby; Secretary Jessica Lee; Treasurer, Rebecca Tinker; Reporter Christian Fleury; Sentinel Jasmine Gove; Parliamentarian, Laura May Swain and Photographer Stephania Surowiec.

The FFA (formerly Future Farmers of America) is a national organization of over 629,000 members preparing for leadership and careers in the science, business and technology of agriculture. The organization has 7,757 chapters located throughout the United States, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands. FFA’s mission is to make a positive difference in the lives of students by developing their potential for premier leadership, personal growth and career success through agricultural education. Local, state and national activities and award programs provide opportunities for students to apply knowledge and skills learned in the classroom. Visit www.nhffa.org for more information.

Award winners display their certificates at the 20th Annual Winnisquam FFA Awards Night. (Courtesy photo)