The Riverton Parke FFA Chapter held their Annual Awards Program on Saturday, May 22nd at Riverton Parke High School. Members and guests enjoyed a morning of brunch, a keynote speaker, and awards. The keynote speaker for the morning was Evan Coblentz, the current Indiana FFA State Treasurer. The awards program included FFA degrees, Career Development Events (CDE) and Leadership Development Events (LDE) recognition, officer awards, senior recognition, advisor awards, and the installation of the new 2021-2022 officer teams. FFA members were awarded degrees based on their involvement in FFA, agriculture science courses, and supervised agricultural experiences (SAEs). Since the chapter did not hold an FFA awards program in 2020, members were awarded degrees for both the 2020 and 2021 school year. Members recognized for receiving their Discovery Degree in 2020 included Zander Norman, Collin Watson, and Mason Haltom. Those receiving their Discovery Degree in 2021 included Emily Adams, Sophie Sanders, Emma Ugoletti, Kenzie Mundell, Rhylie Cannon, Carson Sutton, Jake Haase, Tyler Nelson, Kyle Price, AJ Goff, Kenzie Travis, Kara Melvin, Logan Johnson, Jackson Sciotto, Katilynn Koch, Emma Passmore, Adam Collom, Lillia Ushman, and Leah Clark. Members recognized for receiving their Greenhand Degree in 2020 included KayRae Chapman, Natalie Pruitt, Draven Widrick, Cloe Vanatti, Dalton Keltz-Purcell, and Margot Akers. Members receiving their Greenhand Degree in 2021 included Collin Watson, Mason Haltom, Kaleb Lanzone, Sebastian Mankin, Gabe Lewis, Katie Watson, and Kaitlin Burns. Members recognized for receiving their Chapter Degree in 2020 included Annie Cottrell, Myla Brown, Ray Brown, Emma Lawson, and Lauren Nolan. Members receiving their Chapter Degree in 2021 included Seth McConnell, Dalton Keltz-Purcell, Mason Rickard, and Thomasina Archey. The Honorary Chapter Degree was awarded to two members of the advisory board who are great supporters of the chapter. This year’s Honorary Chapter Degrees went to Amy Gum and Jason Clapp. Members were recognized for various Career Development Events (CDEs) and Leadership Development Events (LDEs) they participated in throughout the year. These CDEs and LDEs included Livestock Skillathon, Soil Judging, Chapter Meeting, District Leadership Contest, and Livestock Judging. The 2020-2021 officer team then presented their “Officer Awards.” Natalie Harkrider, president, presented the “Rising Sun Award” to Katilynn Koch. Ray Brown, vice president, awarded Kenzie Mundell with the “Workhorse Award.” Kaitlin Burns, secretary, presented the “Unity Award” to Kelsie Blair. Collin Watson, reporter, awarded Emily Adams with the “Red, White, and Blue Award”. Sarah Brown was the recipient of the “Washington Award.” Seth McConnell, sentinel, presented the “Shield of Friendship Award” to Dalton Keltz-Purcell. The “Owl Award” went to Macy Johnson presented by Wyatt Koch, junior advisor. High point FFA members were recognized. Members gain points for the various activities and events they participate in throughout the year which are then calculated to determine the “Top 5” for both junior high and high school members. For junior high, the “High Point” Member was Katilynn Koch. Followed by Sophie Sanders in 2nd, Emily Adams in 3rd, Kenzie Mundell in 4th, and Rhylie Cannon in 5th. For the high school, the “High Point” Member was Sarah Brown. Followed by Collin Watson in 2nd, Ray Brown in 3rd, Natalie Harkrider in 4th, and Dalton Keltz-Purcell in 5th. FFA graduates from the class of 2020 were recognized since they did not receive recognition last year. Emilee Hartzler and Lilly Sanders were in attendance. FFA members of the graduating class of 2021 were honored as well. Those members included Evan Price, Natalie Harkrider, Macy Johnson, Catelin Chapman, and Kaitlin Burns. The advisors, Micah Humphreys and Michaela Woods, presented special advisor awards. The first being the “Outstanding Member of the Year” award. For the junior high, Kaitlynn Koch and Kenzie Mundell were awarded the “Outstanding Junior High Members of the Year.” Sarah Brown and Collin Watson were selected as the “Outstanding High School Members of the Year.” Academic Scholarship awards were given to the following individuals: 7th grade - Emily Adams, Rhylie Cannon, Kenzie Mundell, and Carson Sutton, 8th grade - Kara Melvin and Kyle Price, Freshmen - Sarah Brown, Sophomore - Draven Widrick, Junior - Katie Watson, and Senior - Catelin Chapman. The new 2021-2022 high school and junior high officer teams were installed into their new positions. The 2021-2022 high school officer team includes Ray Brown (President), Katie Watson (Vice President), Sarah Brown (Secretary), Collin Watson (Treasurer), Katilynn Koch (Reporter), Dalton Keltz-Purcell (Sentinel), and Hadley Newman (Junior Advisor). The 2021-2022 junior high officer team includes Rhylie Cannon (President), Emily Adams (Vice President), Kenzie Mundell (Secretary), Carson Sutton (Treasurer), Sophie Sanders (Reporter), and Emma Ugoletti (Sentinel). The chapter advisors are Micah Humphreys and Michaela Woods.
Pictured after the awards program include, in front from left: Micah Humphreys (Advisor), Alexis Fisher, Leah Clark, Lillia Ushman, Hadley Newman, Macy Johnson, Natalie Harkrider, Katilynn Koch, Thomasina Archey, Sarah Brown, Kenzie Mundell, and Emily Adams. In the back are: Evan Coblentz (Indiana FFA State Treasurer), Carson Sutton, Logan Johnson, Kaitlin Burns, Rhylie Cannon, Dalton Keltz-Purcell, Wyatt Koch, Seth McConnell, Collin Watson, Jackson Sciotto, Ray Brown, Katie Watson, Mason Rickard, Sophie Sanders, and Michaela Woods (Advisor).