Girls collect items for foster children

A project to collect toys, clothes and necessities for children in foster care earned three Brady High School girls a silver medal in a statewide competition.

Sophomore Jamie Norton and freshmen Josie Palmer and Autumn Hild finished second in the family challenges and issues category of the Students Taking Action with Recognition (STAR) contest during the state Family, Career and Community Leaders of America leadership conference April 1-3.

The girls began their project last fall as part of an assignment in speech class.

Rather than simply give a persuasive speech, students were asked to develop a service project and persuade school administration and peers to participate.

Norton, Palmer and Hild gathered gently used toys, games, stuffed animals, clothing, blankets and diapers for children in foster care.

A pickup load of items were donated to Health and Human Services in North Platte.

The speech assignment blossomed into an FCCLA project that won the district competition.

While at the leadership conference in Lincoln, the Brady students attended seminars covering teen issues and careers.

They also watched other STAR presentations, viewed FCCLA displays and participated in FCCLA business meetings.

“I am pleased with how well the girls did with this project,” said Brady sponsor Patty Cordell. “It was a really good state conference this year and I think the girls got a lot out of it.”