Students across multiple Fossil programs are outperforming, showing what dedication and teamwork can achieve when Fossil students come together. From sweeping events to earning some of the top placements, Fossil’s excellence is shown through the success and hard work of these organizations and their students.
Fossil’s lead in STEM, the Science Olympiad team delivered one of the best performances yet, earning 38 medals. Advisor Melissa Vigil says the success starts with the students themselves.
“First and foremost, our students, I think that’s an incredibly gifted group of students who are very talented and work really hard in science. And I would say otherwise, the additional coaches that we have and the time that they’re able to commit to practices so that the kids can practice.”
Working with one of the largest programs they’d ever had, managing all students was no simple task.
“It was a lot… we haven’t had five teams at the same time for about a decade,” Vigil said. “It was a lot of students to keep track of and manage.”
Towards the end of the season, this led to some tough choices with the limited number of finalist teams allotted.
“It’s heartbreaking… our third team earned the right to be there,” Vigil said.
While Science Olympiad excelled in STEM, Fossil’s Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA) had its own spectacular year. With over 70 possible events, students had to be well-rehearsed.
“Students choose two events… and prepare in different ways,” Advisor Paula Didero said.
When asked what made this year’s team so successful, Didero credited their teamwork
“It was a very cohesive group… they were really supportive of one another.”
A standout student, Kaylee Bamfield, who won first place in Business Law for the second consecutive year, connects to the team’s consistency and dedication. At the state level, qualifying in itself is an achievement.
“It’s really competitive once you get to state… anybody who qualifies, it’s a big accomplishment,” Didero said.
FBLA helps students alike build real experience that transfers directly to future careers.
“They can focus on a specific subject… and really become experts in it.” Didero highlighted.
Beyond just competition, winning five awards, FCCLA (Family Career and Community Leaders of America) makes a meaningful difference in their communities through service and outreach. Advisor Sarah Socolofsky talked about how the skills transferred directly to the real world.
“We actually interview students as if they were applying for a job at our company.”
Some people have a warped misconception that FCCLA is primarily a female-dominated extracurricular.
“People think it’s just for females… or just sewing and cooking,” she said. “But there’s something for every single person.”
Across the school, from all programs, one message stands out: get involved, whether it’s competing in Science Olympiad, building life-long skills in FBLA, or making a difference in communities through FCCLA. Each organization provides something valuable to any student.