Highlands Students Take Two State Student Leadership Champion Titles

Senior Rajdeep Vaghela was named an FCCLA state champion for his hotel interior design project.

 By Robin Gee, City Council Beat Editor

Highlands High School students, senior Rajdeep Vaghela and junior Ashley Coulter recently won state championships at the Kentucky Family, Career and Community Leaders of America (FCCLA) conference in Louisville and are headed to nationals in Anaheim, California, in June.

FCCLA is a national career and technical student organization that promotes personal growth, leadership and career preparation for students interested in a wide scope of family and consumer sciences education.

Vaghela was on hand at the Fort Thomas Independent Schools meeting in May and explained his project that earned him the top state award. "FCCLA features current community leaders of America. I participated in Interior Design, and I designed a 12th floor hotel lounge area and a bedroom for a hotel in Florida — and I won first in state."

He explained that students were given a prompt, a scenario to design for a hotel situated in Sanibel, Florida. Using design apps like Homestyler, the students could create floor plans of their interior design.

As a senior, Vaghela is exploring his options for the future but is leaning strongly toward Sullivan University in Louisville. As a result of his win, he has received a scholarship from the university that will cover six quarters.

Coulter took top state honors for her project in the Nutrition and Wellness category.


Both students will compete in Nationals from June 30 through July 4 where they will have opportunities to win scholarships and awards. Fort Thomas School Board members awarded the students with t-shirts and certificates.


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