BY DAVID BELCHER
FOR THE SENTINEL
MOUNT VERNON — Eight Mount Vernon Township High School FFA members recently won state awards.
Three students won State Proficiency Awards.
“Proficiency awards are given based on students’ record books and their knowledge of the topics they keep records on. Proficiencies are sorted into two categories: Supervised Agricultural Experiences (SAEs) and Supervised Occupational Experiences (SOEs.) After completing their record books, contestants must move on past the section level and the district level before competing at the state level of proficiencies,” Cherie Rogier, MVTHS agriculture teacher and co-FFA advisor, said.
MVTHS State Proficiency Award winners include Shaylen Rowland, sophomore, second-place, Equine Science Entrepreneurship SAE; Eden Guthrie, senior, second-place, Information Technology SOE; and Elias Mullinax, senior, top five in state, Specialty Crop Production SAE.
State FFA Degree is the highest honor an Illinois FFA student can earn.
“State Degrees are awarded to members who have been active in their FFA chapter for at least the last two years, completed a record book with $1,500 in earnings or 750 hours of recorded work, have an average of 3.5 on a 4.0 grading scale, and complete at least 25 hours of community service,” according to Rogier. “Students competing for their State Degrees are interviewed and judged by their interviews and record books.”
MVTHS State FFA Degree winners include Layni Capps, senior; Braxton Dent, senior; Travin Elliott, junior; Morgan Payne, junior; and Ava Tate, junior.
