Gila Ridge grad to receive prestigious FFA degree
Gila Ridge High School alumna McKenna Mellon has been chosen to receive the 2017 American FFA Degree.
Mellon will be receiving her honor during the 90th National Future Farmers of America (FFA) Convention and Expo in Indianapolis, IN. on Oct, 24th.
“Only 1 percent of all FFA members reach this level,” Gila Ridge Career and Technology Education agriculture teacher Danielle Duran said. “These students serve as role models for the younger members and serve as an example of the greatest award an FFA member can achieve.”
The American FFA Degree is awarded to members who have demonstrated the highest level of commitment to FFA and made significant accomplishments in their supervised agricultural experiences (SAEs), according to FFA.org.
An additional requirement is that students have to be out of high school for at least seven months.
“I am honored and excited to blue jacket as I represent my school, city, and state while accepting my American Degree at the National FFA Convention,” said Mellon, who served as the Arizona FFA President for the 2015-16 school year. “After five years of hard work and dedication, it is bittersweet to wear the golden key of the American Degree knowing it will be the last time ever. The support of the community and agriculturalists who want to help the students, like myself, develop life-lasting skills is incredibly important. I’m very blessed to say I’ve benefited from a community’s effort.”
The American FFA Degree is awarded at the National FFA Convention & Expo and is one of the organization’s highest honors. In addition to their degree, each recipient receives a gold American FFA Degree key.
McKenna will be attending Cornell University this fall, where she will study Agricultural Communication.
