Cibola High School’s Jesus Torres took home a gold medal in Culinary Arts at the Family, Career and Community Leaders of America (FCCLA) national conference in Denver from July 2-4. 

“I am filled with gratitude to express my heartfelt appreciation to everyone who played a role in my journey to becoming the first-place winner at nationals,” said Torres, who is a member of Cibola’s Class of 2023.  “I am grateful to the incredible individuals at Cibola, the CTE program, and Arizona FCCLA, whose support pushed me toward this remarkable achievement.”

Participants in the Culinary Arts competition must develop a plan for the time allotted, prepare menu items given to them at the time of the event, and present their prepared items to evaluators. 

"The impact of CTE on our students is immeasurable,” Cibola High School Principal Corey Semler said. “Through our programs, our students have the opportunity to acquire invaluable skills, explore their passions, and prepare for successful careers in various industries. Jesus is a shining example of the dedication, talent, and hard work that our students possess. His achievement not only highlights his individual excellence but also showcases the effectiveness of our CTE programs. It serves as a testament to the commitment of our educators, the support of our community, and the endless potential of our students. Congratulations to Jesus and to all our students who have embraced the opportunities that CTE provides."

Previously, Torres won second place at FCCLA nationals in 2022 in the Leadership category. 

Torres added: “FCCLA  has been part of this incredible journey, introduced me to many opportunities and connected me with peers who offered support along the way. Attending nationals and winning was only part of the process, win or lose. I was not going to stop performing to strive towards my dream of owning a restaurant and even returning one day as a judge. This level of accomplishment surpasses anything I ever envisioned, bringing such great joy as I return home to showcase to my family that one of us can indeed pursue a dream.”

About FCCLA

Family, Career and Community Leaders of America (FCCLA) is a dynamic and effective student-led nation-based organization supporting youth on their journey to become the leaders of tomorrow and helping them address important personal, family, work, and societal issues through Family and Consumer Sciences education. FCCLA has over 237,000 members and more than 5,100 chapters across the nation.