| By Donald Poage
Two Calhoun County FEA [Future Educators Association] members recently attended the National FEA Conference in Orlando, FL. Members included Jared Fitzwater and Brooklyn Smith who were chaperoned by Mrs. Amy Fitzwater and Mr. Don Poage.
Jared and Brook practiced and presented their speeches to a panel of judges Friday. Jared presented in public speaking and Brook presented emergency preparedness.
The group attended the opening session and heard guest speaker Jim Abbott, a one-armed major league baseball pitcher. Jim threw a 4-0 no hitter shutout for the Yankees vs. Cleveland in 1993.
Keynote speaker was 2012 National teacher of the year, Rebecca Mieliwocki who hails from California, was heard Saturday during a luncheon.
Awards were given out Saturday after dinner and the results had both Calhoun students on the stage as National FEA Semi-Finalists which means both placed from 4th-9th which is pretty amazing for a national competition.
The group stayed to hear the results of National FEA elections in which Jared is the Calhoun voting delegate. | 
