SPANISH FORT, Ala. — Spanish Fort High School has snagged another state championship.

Sophomore Aren Valrie’s anti-bullying project not only took a gold medal during the 2011 Family, Career and Community Leaders of America State Leadership Conference, but her high score secures her slot as the Alabama representative in the applied technology category at the national meeting in Anaheim, Calif., this summer.

More than 800 students statewide took part in the two-day conference at Auburn University Montgomery, featuring 30 competitive events and leadership-development workshops.

SFHS family and consumer sciences teacher Joni Ojard said of the nearly 400 students who competed in the “Students Taking Action with Recognition” events, SFHS students brought home two gold medals and one silver one while helping Dawn Nelson gain election as a state officer.

Nelson will now serve as an ambassador for the association at local, regional, state and national meetings during her one-year term that begins with the 2011 national meeting in July.

Sophomores Kelli Mundell and Claire Lary also won a gold medal for their Mardi Gras-themed arts and crafts project with the children at Ronald McDonald House in Mobile. Despite the accolade, however, the pair did not score the highest in their category and will not advance to nationals.

Meanwhile, juniors Grace Eagleson and Lauren Grobe brought home a silver medal for their “Reading is a Bear Necessity” project, inspired by Fairhope author.

Niah Rollins and Felicia Jones also participated in the projects.

Ojard, who started the city’s first family and consumer sciences program at Spanish Fort Middle School 12 years ago before joining SFHS four years ago, said the nonprofit national association is devoted to “preparing family and consumer sciences students for leadership and future career opportunities,” and Alabama boasts more than 700 members.

Dianne Bernasconi, who also teaches in the SFHS  family and consumer sciences department and accompanied the students to Montgomery, said their hard work has certainly kept the bar high.

“We could not be happier with these results,” Bernasconi said.