Natioinal 4-H Congress Delegates (page 4)

Matthew Jones of Knox County is a state winner in the Engineering/Safety Science project. He is the son of Dennis and Karen Jones of Rocky Hill and a senior at Bearden High School. Matthew engineered, constructed and repaired systems and items at the homes of his family and friends. He has installed a water-softening system, tile, laminate flooring, cabinets, woodworking and lathe work. He also practiced proper safety techniques in his lawn care business. Matthew was a Level I state winner in engineering/safety science and has also participated in leadership, citizenship, market lambs, dairy foods judging and LifeSmarts. He was a petroleum power delegate to 4-H Academic Conference. He was been June Dairy Month chairman for five years and is a teen leader for the Knox County 4-H program. Mathew attended American Legion Boys’ State, serves as a Bearden High mentor to freshmen, is a member of the Key Club executive board and leads the clarinet section in the Bearden High band. He plans to attend the University of Tennessee, Knoxville and major in biosystems engineering.

Clarissa King of Roane County is Tennessee’s state winner in the Clothing and Textiles project. This home-schooled senior is the daughter of Thomas and Serena King of Monterrey. Clarissa’s project has consisted of sewing, knitting, cross-stitching, quilting and crocheting. She has made formal and casual wear, quilt tops, blankets, pillows, pillow shams and doll clothes. She is especially proud of winning first place in advanced construction at Fashion Camp during the fashion revue. Clarissa has secretary of her local 4-H club and served as a member of the Tennessee Valley Fair youth board. She has had a leadership role at both junior 4-H camp and the regional Fashion and Design Camp. This community-minded youth has helped deliver food boxes to the needy, served at church dinners and banquets and raised money to start a church in another town. She plans to attend the University of Tennessee at Martin and study dance education.

Tiffany LaLonde of Coffee County received a silver bowl for her accomplishments in the Entomology project. She is the daughter of Becky LaLonde of Murfreesboro and a senior at The Webb School in Bell Buckle. Tiffany enjoys sharing her insect collection with younger 4-H members and seeing them get excited about entomology. She has lead many project group meetings and taught classes in local elementary schools. She has served in leadership roles at junior 4-H camp, State 4-H Wildlife Conference and 4-H Electric Camp. She participates on the livestock judging, meats judging, plant and seed identification, LifeSmarts and Dairy Bowl teams. She credits her 4-H experiences with giving her the opportunity to meet and work with a variety of people and teaching her to be flexible in difficult situations. Tiffany has served as county June Dairy Month chairman and serves on the Central Region All Star council. She plans to major in agriculture and pursue a career in neonatology.

Benjamin Lee Ben Lee of Monroe County is representing Tennessee as a state winner in the Engineering/Safety Science project. A senior at Sequoyah High School, Ben is the son of James and Tammy Lee of Madisonville. Ben did all of his own work on his motocross bikes, then organized a project group to share his knowledge with younger 4-H’ers. He has been a Level I state winner in both the engineering/safety science and electric projects and was selected as one the top two students in the auto mechanics program at his school through the “Careers in Action” program. Ben has served as a teen leader at junior 4-H camp and helped younger 4-H’ers with their record books. Ben says his teen leadership experiences were especially good in that they taught him how to work with those younger than he. Ben plans to attend the University of Tennessee, Knoxville and pursue an engineering degree.

Beth Lee of Henry County is this year’s state winner in the Performing Arts/Recreation project. Beth is a senior at Gateway Christian School and the daughter of Glenn and Pam Lee of Paris. This talented 4-H’er is a member of the Tennessee 4-H Performing Arts Troupe, has danced in Sleeping Beauty in New York City and volunteers to entertain at community nursing homes. Beth has also been a Level I state winner in performing arts/recreation, was the 11th grade state 4-H public speaking winner and was a member of the state-winning plant and seed identification team. This young leader is a senior representative on State 4-H Council, vice president of her county 4-H Honor Club and serves on the Southern Region Teen Leadership Conference planning committee. Beth is a water safety instructor and lifeguards at the Paris city pool and the Paris Civic Center. She is the captain of the Paris travel soccer team and member of her church choir and orchestra. Beth plans to attend Union University as a pre-physical therapy major with a minor in music.