Community High School’s FFA Chapter earned multiple accolades at the organization’s 97th annual National Convention & Expo held Oct. 23-26 in Indianapolis.

Four Community FFA alumni—Class of 2022 graduates Juliana Bernardi and Amelia Rodriguez and the Class of 2023’s Evan Kraft and Peter Metivier—received the American FFA Degree, the program’s highest honor awarded to less than half a percent of all FFA members.

To qualify for the degree, the graduates demonstrated exceptional leadership, community involvement and achievements as agriculture education students and met extensive requirements, including achieving the Illinois FFA degree, maintaining three years of active FFA membership, and completing at least 540 hours of agricultural education.

At the convention, Community’s chapter was named a Model of Excellence National Finalist, recognizing the program among the top 10 chapters nationwide.

That recognition celebrates the chapter’s achievements during the 2023-24 school year—achievements spearheaded and led by 2024’s Illinois FFA Degree winners, the Class of ’24s Laney Maloy, Emily Bianchi, Lily Garcia and J Beto.

National FFA Model of Excellence chapters, according to the FFA, “exhibit exemplary qualities in all categories of growing leaders, building communities and strengthening agriculture.”

Twenty-one of Community’s chapter members attended the convention, representing the school on a national stage.