This summer, Mrs. Litherland accompanied the RVHS FCCLA chapter to the nation's capital to participate in the 2026 National Leadership Conference, an event that hosted more than 10,000 attendees from across the United States.
After advancing past district and state competitions, the students took the national stage to showcase their hard work. Among them was Ella, who presented her "Kids Feeding Kids" project to multiple adviser groups to help other schools launch similar plans.
Fellow qualifier Kiley also excelled at the national level, earning a score of 89.5 (a silver) for her event; aside from competing, the trip offered students a chance to explore historical landmarks.
"I enjoyed getting to see all the monuments and all the sights they had there," Kiley said. "My favorite place I got to visit was the National Washington Cathedral."
Beyond the monuments and medals, the conference served as a powerful opportunity for personal growth as the Kansas students learned to navigate a major city, bustling airports, the D.C. metro system, and massive hotels.
Watching that growth firsthand was the highlight of the trip for Mrs. Litherland. "I was very proud of them," Mrs. Litherland said. "I thought they did well. I was proud that they represented us well, and I was proud to call them my students."