Tekoa's Kalmes re-elected as state FCCLA officer

Madison Kalmes, a junior at Tekoa High School, was elected to her second year as an FCCLA state officer two weeks ago at the Coast Hotel in Wenatchee. She will be vice president of public relations for the 17-member board.

She did not compete in FCCLA (Family, Career and Community Leaders of America) this year, after advancing to nationals the past three years and receiving gold medals in "Illustrated Talk."

She began in FCCLA as a seventh-grader in Tekoa.

"I wasn't too into ag and FFA and I was looking to join something," Kalmes said.

As a state officer again, she will attend week-long planning meetings in May, during the summer and again in November.

"It is a bond like no other," Kalmes said of working with the other officers. "It's such an indescribable bond."

She returns to the committee along with five others from the past year.

This year's May gathering will be in Olympia May 19-22 in preparation for nationals in Anaheim, Calif., June 30-July 4.