A group of teens in suits stand in a line on a stage in front of a large screen reading "2026 Chapter of Distinction, Gold Level: Artesia High School."

Activities in Action: BPA, DECA qualify members for national, international conferences; FFA shining at LDEs, CDEs; district student councils display leadership out loud

Brienne Green

March 27, 2026

AHS STUDENT COUNCIL

Leadership Workshop

A large group of teens pose for a photo while holding a colorful banner that reads "Leadership Workshop."

Student Councils and student ambassadors from all of the Artesia Public Schools gathered recently at Park Junior High School as the AHS Student Council, pictured above, hosted its 2026 Leadership Workshop. Councils formed uniquely named and themed groups and developed motivational chants while also engaging in hands-on activities and workshops led by the AHS council members, designed to strengthen the young representatives as both as leaders and collaborators. See below for photos of each council and a video from the event.

A group of children hold a banner reading "Central Bullpups."

A group of children hold a banner reading "Hermosa Elementary Superkids."

A group of children hold a banner reading "Roselawn Roadrunners."

A group of children hold a banner reading "Yeso."

A group of children hold a banner reading "Yucca Bulldog Bandits."

A group of preteens hold a banner reading "Zia."

A group of teens hold a banner reading "Park Junior High."

A collage of 11 photos show students engaged in group workshop activities.

State Conference

A group of teens pose for a photo outside a white and orange bus. One teen holds a large spirit stick with orange, white and black ribbons hanging from it and a stuffed Bulldog on top.

PICTURED: The AHS Student Council poses for a photo outside their bus Feb. 12 before departing for the State Conference in Los Lunas.

The New Mexico Association of Student Councils was sending out good vibrations for its 76th Annual State Conference, so AHS StuCo jumped in a bus, said peace out to the suits, and traded classes for the freedom of the open road Feb. 12-14. This year's conference, themed "Groove Into Leadership," was hosted by Los Lunas High School, and Artesia's delegates took full advantage of the opportunities offered, learning, growing, and challenging themselves amongst 1,800 student representatives of 109 schools from across the state.

Among the highlights of the event was Artesia Student Council advisor Jennifer Humble's selection as the 2026 NMASC High School Advisor of the Year. Humble's tireless dedication to the students, traditions, and community spirit of AHS is something that impacts the Bulldog family every day, and it was great to see her efforts to improve the school experience recognized on the state stage!

A woman smiles as she points to a class ring on her right hand. She is seated at a table with drinkware on it.

Click here to view a photo album from Day One of State Conference, here to view an album from Day Two, and here to view an album from Day Three.

A group of teens pose for a photo. All are wearing orange tie-dyed shirts and jeans, round orange sunglasses, beads, and either a black or an orange afro wig. Some also wear black fringed vests.

BUSINESS PROFESSIONALS OF AMERICA

CTSO Day

A teen boy in a suit and a teen girl in a pantsuit and jacket smile for the camera while standing in front of a table reading "New Mexico Career and Technical Student Organizations."

The New Mexico State Legislature chose to dedicate a day at the Roundhouse Jan. 30 to Career Technical Student Organizations, welcoming student representatives of Business Professionals of America; DECA; Educators Rising; Family, Career and Community Leaders of America; FFA; Health Occupations Students of America (HOSA)-Future Health Professionals; SkillsUSA; and the Technology Student Association to the Roundhouse to advocate to lawmakers about the importance of career technical education in public schools. Attending on behalf of Artesia BPA and New Mexico BPA were State Vice President of Correspondence Zachary Sedillos and State Vice President of Community Relations Nabil Flores, pictured above. Sedillos and Flores had the opportunity to meet with State Rep. Jon Henry (R-Eddy) and State Rep. Jimmy Mason (R-Eddy), both of Artesia and representing Eddy, Chaves, Lea and Otero counties, before being introduced alongside their fellow state officers on the Senate floor by Senate Majority Whip Michael Padilla (D-Bernalillo). Pictured below, Sedillos and Flores pose for a photo with Henry, far left, AHS BPA advisor Jennifer Humble, and Mason, far right.

A teen boy in a suit and a teen girl in a pantsuit and jacket stand alongside a woman in a black outfit and two men in suits. One of the men wears a cowboy hat.

NMBPA STATE CONFERENCE

A large group of teens pose for a photo.

Artesia BPA departed Feb. 18 for the New Mexico BPA State Leadership Conference in Albuquerque. Held at the Marriott Pyramid and themed "Unmask Your Potential," the conference welcomed BPA students from throughout the state for workshops, competition, networking and fun. But of course, it wouldn't have been an Artesia BPA trip without a whole lot of hardware returning to the City of Champions. When all was said and done, the AHS students had amassed 10 state championships, 10 state runners-up, 32 National Conference qualifications, one new State President in Jonah Doporto, and a State Vice President of Membership in Alexandra Galvez Anabia. See below for results.

A large group of teens in casual business attire pose for a photo.

Above, Artesia BPA poses for a photo following the State Leadership Conference. To view Doporto's state officer campaign speech, click here. To view Galvez Anabia's campaign speech, click here.

State Champions
• Gabriel Gomez - Fundamental Word
• Hayli Greenwood - Intermediate Word
• Taylor Salter - Individual Presentation
• Edwin Villarreal - Python
• Eden Barrera - Database
• Zachary Sedillos - Integrated Office
• MyKaila Garcia - Advanced Desktop Publishing
• Anikah Wisen - Fundamental Accounting
• Brent McIntire - Payroll Accounting
• Administrative Support Team: Jazmin Acosta, ZaLeigh Greer, Halle Harris, Charles Moreau

State Runners-Up
• Cadence Campbell - Fundamental Word
• Lily Morgan - Medical Coding
• Taylor Salter - Database
• Charles Moreau - Advanced Office Systems
• Brina Rodriguez - Fundamental Spreadsheet
• Demrie Morrison - Advanced Desktop
• Administrative Support Team: Nabil Flores, Zachary Sedillos, Emily Soto
• Financial Analyst Team: Nykol Duncan, Brent McIntire
• Presentation Team: Hayli Greenwood, Sarah Plotner
• Small Business Management Team: Kiley Colby, Ariana Perez, Uzi Rangel, Rebekah Taylor

Third in State
• Alexandra Galvez Anabia - Prepared Speech
• Nabil Flores - Ethics and Professionalism
• Alyssa Fuentes - Database
• Evelyn Gamon - Advanced Office Systems
• Alejandro Bahena - Fundamental Spreadsheet
• Sophia Hammer - Health Administration
• Sarah Plotner - Fundamental Accounting
• Website Design Team: Destiny Doom, Sayuri Guerrero, Demrie Morrison

Fourth in State
• Alejandro Bahena - Database
• Rebekah Taylor - Health Administration
• Uzi Rangel - MMHR Concepts
• Jazmin Acosta - IT Concepts

Fifth in State
• ZaLeigh Greer - Fundamental Spreadsheet

Top Ten in State
• Valeria Hernandez - Medical Coding
• Edwin Villarreal - Computer Programming Concepts; Digital Communication and Design
• Halle Harris - Meeting and Event Planning
• Taylor Salter - Parli-Pro Concepts
• Administrative Support Concepts Team: Halle Harris, Adam Longoria
• Health Administration Concepts Team: Evelyn Gamon, Lily Morgan

In side-by-side images, a teen boy in a black suit and sunglasses smiles as he displays a certificate. He wears two medals around his neck. A girl in a pantsuit and jacket smiles for the camera. She wears an ID tag on a lanyard around her neck.

In addition, Zachary Sedillos and Jazmin Acosta, pictured above, were selected as Wanda Harriman Memorial Scholarship recipients, receiving awards of $1,500 and $2,000, respectively. Artesia BPA was named a 2025-26 Gold Level Chapter of Distinction, and a Statesman Award was presented to Brent McIntire, pictured below. Click here to view a video of outgoing state officers, including Sedillos and Flores.

A teen boy in a suit smiles for the camera. Sith one hand, he holds up three fingers. With the other, he holds two medals.

AHS DECA

New Mexico SCDC

A teen girl in a suit smiles for the camera as she holds up two certificates.

Artesia High School DECA sent 10 individuals and five teams to the New Mexico State Career Development Conference March 2-3 in Albuquerque, coming away with some impressive results. Nykol Duncan, pictured above, brought home not one but two state titles, winning both rounds of the Virtual Business Finance competition. Javier Rodriguez, meanwhile, earned a bronze in Principles of Hospitality and Tourism. Both students now qualify for the International Career Development Conference, where nearly 30,000 DECA members from around the nation will gather to compete, network, and grow their business and leadership skills. The ICDC is set for April 25-28 in Atlanta, Ga. In addition to the individual honors, the Artesia DECA chapter was named a Gold Level Chapter of Distinction at the SCDC, and Kendra Janway was selected as New Advisor of the Year. Click here to view a highlight video from the New Mexico SCDC.

A woman in a light-colored pant suit and jacket holds a plaque as she smiles for the camera.

A teen boy in a suit bearing a patch reading "DECA" poses for the camera. With his right hand, he holds up a bronze medal he is wearing around his neck.

A group of teens stand in a line on a stage. Behind them, a large screen reads "2026 Chapter of Distinction, Gold Level: Artesia High School."

ARTESIA FFA

Western National Roundup

Two teen boys and two teen girls in jackets and jeans pose for a photo. All are holding up a handful of ribbons and a small plaque. The boys are wearing black cowboy hats.

The Artesia horse judging team competed Jan. 9 at the annual Western National Roundup in Denver, Colo., with impressive results. Representing New Mexico FFA, the group -- above from left, Jace Deans, Hartley Gutierrez, Allie Elkins and Sam Fodge -- took fourth place overall in the Horse Classic FFA Horse Judging Contest. Individually, Elkins placed fifth in the nation in High Individual Overall Performance with a score of 454, also placing as the 11th High Individual Overall by way of a 166-165 tie-breaker over Arkansas' Tyler Barnhart, 13th in High Individual Reasons, and 19th in High Individual Overall Halter. Deans finished ninth in High Individual Overall Performance, tying Illinois' Hannah Miller with a score of 447 but coming up short in a tie-breaker, 134-129. Deans was also 10th High Individual Overall, 11th in High Individual Reasons, and 17th in High Individual Overall Halter. Fodge was ninth in Reasons, 11th in Overall Halter, and 16th in Overall Performance and High Individual, and Gutierrez finished 14th in Overall Performance and Overall Halter, 15th in High Individual, and 17th in Reasons.

Junior High Members Earn Major Honors

A teen girl stands against a blue background and holds a yellow banner reading "2026 First Place Spanish Creed."

Artesia FFA members from Park Junior High School attended the New Mexico FFA State Leadership Development Event in February, bringing home some major hardware. Eighth-grader Itziar Palafox Rivera, above, earned state-champion honors in the Spanish Creed contest, while the team of Jaylee Joy, Millie Barley, Autumn Edwards and Maryann Couch, below, took the silver in the Junior High Quiz Bowl. Additionally, a District V Leadership Development Event was held in mid-January, with several eighth-graders getting their first taste of competition there. The Junior High Opening and Closing Ceremonies team, at bottom, placed fourth overall.

Four teen girls stand against a blue background. The two girls in the middle hold a wooden plaque.

Six teen girls and one teen boy pose for a photo in front of a painting of a school building. One girl holds a small blue plaque.

District V LDEs

Three teen girls and two teen boys wearing blue FFA jackets and medals around their necks pose for a photo in front of green and white wall-mounted mats.

The District V Leadership Development Events in Hagerman saw AHS FFA members come away with one gold and three silver medals, along with a pair of fifth-place finishes. Bailey Trujillo took first overall in Chapter Prepared Speech, while runner-up placements went to Taylor Salter in that same event, Kyle Bean in Extemporaneous Speaking, and Klanclie Conklin in Greenhand Prepared Speech. Coming in fifth were Bean in Employment Skills and Landon Hendricks in Chapter Prepared Speech. Pictured above are, from left, Conklin, Hendricks, Trujillo, Salter and Bean.

FFA Week

Three teen girls and three teen boys in blue FFA jackets pose for a photo surrounding a man who is holding a certificate.

With a week of fellowship, homemade pie, dress-up days, honoring alumni and ag sponsors, and more, the Artesia FFA joined the rest of the country in celebrating all things agriculture education Feb. 21-28 during National FFA Week. The City of Artesia made it official with a proclamation signed by then-Mayor Pro Tem Jeff Youtsey, pictured above with chapter officers, from left, Sophia Estrada, Reporter; Jace Deans, Sentinel; Morgan Waldrip, Secretary; Taylor Salter, President; Sam Fodge, Vice President; and Hayden Treadway, Treasurer.

Career Development Events

A blue graphic details placements of students competing in various categories.

The local FFA chapter took part in its first Career Development Event Feb. 28 in Hobbs: the New Mexico Junior College Thunderbird Classic FFA Invitational. A trio of teams came away with first-place finishes, including Entomology, Food Science and Vet Science, with the Milk Quality team earning a runner-up finish and four more teams taking the bronze: Dairy, Horticulture Produce, Agronomy and Wool. In addition, Artesia had three individual members take top honors -- Itziar Palafox Rivera, Food Science; Sophia Estrada, Milk Quality; and Morgan Waldrip, Vet Science -- two take silver medals -- Taylor Salter, Food Science, and Kaydence Klontz, Dairy -- and two more come in third -- Kyle Bean, Dairy, and Hayden Treadway, Horticulture Produce. See the graphic above for full results.

A blue graphic details placements of students competing in various categories.

On March 14, students headed to Roswell for the Eastern New Mexico University-Roswell Amigos CDE at the ENMU-R campus and the Eastern New Mexico State Fair fairgrounds, once again competing well. Top finishes went to the Entomology and Wool teams, along with Waldrip from the Milk Quality team; runner-up placements went to Morgan Fisher from the Entomology team, Swayzee Folmar from the Wool team, and Makayla Monk from the Horticulture Produce team; and third-place finishes went to the Horse team, Garrett Gutierrez as an individual member of that team, and Landon Hendricks from the Wool team. See the graphic above for full results.

A blue graphic details placements of students competing in various categories.

Artesia FFA kept its nose to the grindstone over Spring Break, heading out to yet another CDE March 21: the Wolverine Invitational in Texico. It was a stellar Saturday for the local chapter, with eight total first-place finishes: in team competition, Entomology, Horticulture Produce, Vet Science, Milk Quality and Wool; and individually, Waldrip (Vet Science and Milk Quality) and Sam Fodge (Wool). Estrada (Milk Quality) picked up a silver medal, while third-place finishes went to the Agronomy and Dairy teams, along with Baylee Denison (Entomology), Treadway (Horticulture Produce) and Klanclie Conklin (Wool). See the graphic above for full results.

Ag in the Classroom

Three teens in blue FFA jackets stand alongside a screen at the front of an elementary school classroom as young students seated at tables watch them.

After undergoing training in early January with New Mexico Ag in the Classroom on a new literacy project -- "Seeds to Salsa" -- Artesia FFA members headed out to the local elementary schools at the end of the month to present the program to 13 fifth-grade classrooms. "Seeds to Salsa" features presentations and hands-on activities designed to educate young students on how the agricultural industry nurtures crops like chile from planting to plate. The FFA also read "The Beeman" to 13 fourth-grade classes to help foster an understanding of the importance of bees to agriculture and the environment before leaving the younger students bee-ming over their brand-new bee bots.

A teen girl in a blue FFA jacket holds a book open as she reads to young students in an elementary school classroom.

AHS BAND

All-District Honor Band

A group of teens, three in black semi-formal attire and the rest in orange band uniforms, pose for a photo on a set of stairs in an airy building foyer.

Members of the Pride of the Pecos Valley selected by audition for the Southeast New Mexico Music Educators' Association's All-District Honor Band came together with young musicians from around the area to perform a special concert Jan. 30-31 at Tydings Auditorium in Hobbs. Named this year to the High School Symphonic Band were freshmen Ayden Salas (bass clarinet) and Garrett Baldwin (French horn; top player in section). High School Concert Band selections included juniors Jema Molina (clarinet), Hayden Treadway (French horn) and Johnathan Whitt (euphonium) and freshmen Kacey Nez (clarinet), Kaydence Reyes (clarinet), Viki Williams (clarinet), Jose Santacruz (trumpet) and Angel Gamon (percussion).

State Basketball Tournament

The AHS band was also on hand during the Class 4A State Tournament at The Pit in Albuquerque to help energize the crowd and motivate the Runnin' 'Dogs all the way to the state championship game. Click here to view a video of the band performing at The Pit.

PARK STUDENT COUNCIL

A group of teens, all but one seated on the floor, pose for a photo holding various articles of pet food and supplies.

The Park Junior High School Student Council kicked off the new year with a pet food and supply drive, above. Council members made sure any local animals that might've had it a little ruff during the winter storm were purr-fectly taken care of, donating their collected items to Artesia Animal Shelter. The Park StuCo also delighted the school's faculty on National Have Fun at Work Day Jan. 30, arriving at classrooms with carts laden with snacks and customizable beverage options, below. The students were as excited to give back to their educators as the teachers were to start the day with smiles on their faces and a little extra fuel.

One male and five female teens pose for a photo in front of orange lockers in a school hallway. In front of them is a cart laden with beverages, snacks, ice, and flavorings.

A group of teens and two female teachers pose for a photo in a school hallway. The teachers are retrieving items from a beverage and snack cart.

One female teen holds a cup of ice as another female teen pours a beverage over it.

ZIA INTERMEDIATE BAND

Three teen girls in semi-formal black attire pose for a photo at the bottom of a set of stairs. One girl holds a black instrument case in her hands.

Three members of the Zia Intermediate School seventh-grade band performed Jan. 30-31 in Hobbs with the All-District Honor Band following their auditions and selection in December: Xenia Munoz, flute; Hayley Shields, alto saxophone; and Aria Reyes, flute. Shields was the only Artesia seventh-grader selected for the Middle School Symphonic Band, alongside eighth-graders Haleigh Morris (bass clarinet) and Urijah Luna (trombone). Named to the Middle School Concert Band were Reyes and Munoz, fellow seventh-graders William Reyes (French horn), Grace Morgan (French horn) and Xavier Gomez (tuba) and eighth-graders Amado Alvarez (clarinet), Marily Flores (clarinet), Madilyn Goodloe (French horn), Hailey Martinez (French horn), Matthew Williams (trombone), Rylan Bahe (euphonium), Jacob Ramirez (tuba) and Clayton Crawford (percussion).

A large group of preteens holding various instruments and seated in chairs in a gymnasium look at a male band director at the front of the room.

The Zia band also put in special practice time to make sure they were ready to welcome the district's fifth-grade students Thursday, March 26, during the elementary schools' annual tour of Zia for incoming sixth-graders.