Page 16 - South Mississippi Living - September, 2026

COAST NOTE
Keily Hernandez, Allie Manning, Jaylin Bryan,
Faith Kennedy and Avalyn Bryan
story by Lynn Lofton photo courtesy of Pass Christian High School
A group of five Pass Christian High School students
distinguished themselves at a National Leadership Conference
in Washington, D.C. The students, Jaylin Bryan, Avalyn Bryan,
Faith Kennedy, Keily Hernandez and Allie Manning are
members of the Family, Career and Community Leaders of
America (FCCLA) and competed in different categories after
advancing through highly competitive Online STAR Events
Preliminary Round.
“Their outstanding performances showcased the strength of
Family and Consumer Sciences education and the exceptional
leadership being developed at Pass Christian High School,” said
their advisor Jennifer Frye.
Leading the chapter’s accomplishments was Jaylin Bryan,
who earned Mississippi’s only Gold Medal and finished among
the Top Ten in the Nation in the RED Talks. The RED Talks
recognizes participants who prepare and deliver a TED Talk-
style presentation on an education-related topic based on an
annual scenario.
Bryan also competed in the Impromptu Speech Demonstration
Event, where participants demonstrate their ability to think
critically, organize ideas quickly, and confidently deliver an
effective speech with minimal preparation.
The team of Avalyn Bryan and Kennedy earned a Gold Medal
and were named Top 20 National Finalists and earned a Silver
Medal for their instructional video project and presentation at
16 | September 2026 the national event.
The team of Hernandez and Manning also advanced after
earning a Gold Medal and Top 20 National Finalist recognition
during the Instructional Design and earned a Silver Medal
during national competition.
Avalyn Bryan competed in the Fashion Sketch Level 2 Skill
Demonstration Event, where participants create an original
fashion design and sketch based on a design scenario while
demonstrating artistic ability, creativity, and technical fashion
illustration skills.
Kennedy, Hernandez and Manning each competed in the
Interviewing Skills Demonstration Event that recognizes students
for their ability to prepare professional employment materials
and successfully complete an entry-level job interview related to
Family and Consumer Sciences careers.
“Watching our students compete on the national stage was
incredible, but seeing Jaylin recognized as Mississippi’s only
National Top Ten finalist and only Gold medal winner made the
experience even more special,” Frye said. “Every one of these
students demonstrated the hard work, creativity, professionalism,
and leadership that Family and Consumer Sciences education
develops. Their success is the result of months of preparation,
perseverance, and dedication. They represented Pass Christian
High, our community, and Mississippi with excellence, and I
couldn’t be prouder of what they accomplished.”
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