Staff writer

Call Tristen Snelling the promoter and Tori Schmidt the publicist.

It could be switched around, but either way the Marion High School duo is heading to the Family, Career and Community Leaders of America (FCCLA) nationals July 12-16 in Nashville, Tenn., for a job well done at a state S.T.A.R event.

Snelling, a MHS FCCLA representative, and Schmidt, the chapter’s president, competed Monday at Wichita in the promote and publicize category and earned first place.

Their jobs were to show how they promoted and publicized FCCLA to their school, community, and local chapter.

Students Taking Action with Recognition

S.T.A.R. events are similar to athletic events with district and state competitions followed by a national competition.

FCCLA individuals and groups compete in different categories for bronze, silver, and gold awards.

Only gold winners move on, and that is what Snelling and Schmidt achieved at the state meet, as well as the district meet in February at Newton.

At the state meet, the two had to make a presentation in front of three judges.

They did their best to show how they promoted and publicized FCCLA back home.

That included presenting a binder they put together of all school and community related events the MHS chapter had completed, as well as give a speech.

However, they did not just talk in front of the judges — they sang.

“We had to present a speech in a creative way,” Snelling said.

So, the two sang their speech to the tune of Queen’s, “We Will Rock You.”

“(The judges) were really nice,” Schmidt said. “They clapped along with us.”

The two felt at ease and by the time the six-verse song was complete, their work was done.

“I was kind of nervous,” Snelling said.

The first-place finish proved they had nothing to be nervous about.

That was until they had to receive their medals.

“We had to walk up on stage in front of 1,000 people, and that’s not really my thing,” Schmidt said with a laugh.

In the end, she and Snelling made it through and became the first students in sponsor Myrta Billings’ eight years of teaching at MHS to qualify for nationals.

“After we came down (from the stage) Mrs. Billings was in tears,” Snelling said.

“Those are my girls,” Billings said with a smile. “What can I say?”