Award Recipients

Nicole (Nikki) Heflin, CNWE 

Indiana Affiliate  

Program Name: Foodies Rock FCS Education 

School Name: Westfield High School 

Chef Nicole (Nikki) Heflin began her career in Culinary Arts in Boca Raton, Florida, in 1997. She completed the Transitioned to Teaching program at Purdue University and began teaching at Westfield (Indiana) High School in 2011. Nikki began building the Culinary Arts program in 2015 and soon added FCCLA, developed Foodies Rock. She has grown Westfield’s FCS program from one high school teacher to 4.5 high school and 2 middle school teachers. The FCS programs serve almost 2,000 students each year and connect students to community and industry through innovative programming and outreach. Popular speaker, committed FCS professional, and champion of student success, Nikki Heflin is Certified in Nutrition & Wellness Education and has many awards including FCCLA, ACF, AAFCS/IN, AAFCS, INACTE/FCS, and Westfield Washington Schools. Chef Nikki Heflin has secured numerous grants and support of industry and community for her ambitious, innovative, and widely recognized Culinary Arts program. 

Sara Consdorf 

Illinois Affiliate  

Program Name: Teaching Pathway  

School Name: Geneva High School  

Sara Consdorf is a National Board-Certified Family and Consumer Sciences teacher at Geneva High School in Illinois. She has 15 years of teaching experience and has started the Teaching Pathway program at GHS. While starting a new class called Early Childhood Education, Sara also founded a learning lab called Little Vikings Preschool, giving high school students the opportunity to explore careers while working with preschool children. She started 2 dual credit classes, Introduction to Teaching and Teaching Internship, as well. Building strong community relationships, and partnerships within the district, the program is highly respected. Sara has started chapters of FCCLA at 3 schools and is currently the advisor for Educators Rising Club and National Technical Honor Society at GHS. Sara has been a board member with ILAFCS for 4 years and has served in a communications role while also helping plan and implement yearly conferences. 

Emily Larson, CFCS 

Wisconsin Affiliate  

Program Name: Family and Consumer Sciences Leadership Academy 

School Name: Amery High School 

Emily Larson has thrived as a Family and Consumer Sciences instructor at the Amery School District for nineteen (19) years. She earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Family and Consumer Sciences Education from UW-Stout University and her Masters in Family and Consumer Sciences from the University of Central Arkansas. In 2017, through the help of a school referendum and grants, she worked with architects to turn the 1970 classroom into a state-of-the-art FCS suite including a textile fabrication lab and commercial culinary facility. Emily founded the FCS Leadership Academy which incorporates service learning, youth centered leadership and post-secondary options. She has created published lesson plans and loves incorporating new technology into her classroom. Emily’s leadership students can be found roasting coffee beans, freeze-drying fresh herbs, managing an online school store, catering with a brick fire oven menu, creating vinyl applications, and earning industry credentials. 

Joanne S. Cavis, CFCS-Retired 

Georgia Affiliate 

Joanne was grounded in the sciences by a home economist mother and chemical engineer father. Raised in Baltimore and Philadelphia, she was the oldest of five children, married her high school sweetheart, has a son and daughter and six grandchildren. Joanne majored in Home Economics, with a concentration in textiles and clothing at the University of Delaware. Her career began in retail, textile licensing and adult education in the northeast. A move to Columbus, Georgia, center of southeastern textiles, offered opportunities to connect with other home economists and contribute to her community through volunteer work. In 1980, Joanne joined the University of Georgia Extension Service which resulted in a 30-plus year career addressing critical community issues and leadership in professional organizations. Accomplishments earned her Senior Public Service Associate faculty rank, equivalent to academic full professor. In retirement, Joanne continues to work with professional organizations at state, national and international levels. 

Lois Lewis, CFCS, CPFFE 

Minnesota Affiliate  

Lois Lewis is a retired professional whose career includes being a County Extension Educator for six years, and teaching high school Family & Consumer Sciences for 30+ years. She has a Bachelor’s degree from the University of Minnesota and a Master’s in Education from the University of Wisconsin-Stout. Over the years, Lois built her FCS program into a fulltime position, and implemented a successful ProStart culinary program. She has received many awards, including the 2012 AAFCS National Teacher of the Year, the 2014 Minnesota ProStart Educator of Excellence, and the 2018 Minnesota Rural Education Association Educator of Excellence. She was a Minnesota Teacher Induction Program mentor and an Educators Abroad University Supervisor, and has also had multiple leadership roles in the Minnesota Association of Family & Consumer Sciences (including President) and in AAFCS, most notably as Elementary, Secondary and Adult Education Community leader and a Council for Certification member. 

Donna Graham 

Washington Affiliate 

Donna Graham has been an FCS professional for 35 years. Her career has been a non-traditional one; she owned a custom sewing business until retirement in 2016. She has been on the Washington Association of FCS Executive Board as since 1999, first as the newsletter editor and shortly thereafter as the Public Information Director, increasing her duties to webmaster, newsletter editor, and social media maintenance. In addition to her affiliate activities, Donna has been active nationally. She has chaired the Community of Lifelong Professionals since its transformation from the Partners in Home & Community in 2019. Her goal is to increase participation of retired professionals. Donna strives to create order out of chaos and leave the world a better place through her involvement as a professional and volunteer in civic and social programs, using her skills and knowledge as a family and consumer sciences professional. 

Jacqueline M. Holland, CFCS-HDFS 

Maryland Affiliate  

Jacqueline M. Holland, Ed.D., CFCS, is an Associate Professor and Chair in the Department of Family and Consumer Sciences at Morgan State University. Throughout her career in education, she has served as a classroom teacher, school administrator, and district supervisor for family and consumer sciences programs. As the district supervisor, she provided annual management for approximately 11,000 students and 100 educators. Dr. Holland served as the president of the National Coalition for Black Development in Family and Consumer Sciences. In her tenure as president of the American Association of Family and Consumer Sciences (AAFCS), she explored the practice of diversity, equity, and inclusion within the organization. This exploration led to the creation of a Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion community that she currently manages. Dr. Holland has received several professional awards in family and consumer sciences, including the AAFCS Distinguished Service Award, Outstanding Family and Consumer Sciences Service Award, President Award, Outstanding Visionary Leader, and The President's Faculty Award for Service from Morgan State University. She was inducted into the Havre de Grace High School Hall of Fame based on her professional success and commitment to the school motto “Enter to Learn, Leave to Serve”. She has presented and written globally on her research in Home Economics. Dr. Holland is co-author of the book African Americans in the Human Sciences: AAFCS Leader Award Application – Page 2 Version: 2024 Challenges and Opportunities, Her YouTube channel, Healthy Abode, addresses ways to create a healthy environment in the home. 

Emily Brill, CFCS 

Pennsylvania Affiliate 

Emily Brill is a high school Family and Consumer Sciences teacher in Pittsburgh, PA. She primarily teaches Child Development that teaches students to develop parenting skills and to explore teaching as a career. After years of being the only FCS teacher in her district, Emily was able to increase enrollment in FCS courses so much that two new FCS teachers were added to the staff in two years, and FCS courses were reintroduced into the middle school program. Now, her focus is shifting to addressing the teacher shortage crisis in Pennsylvania by redesigning her Child Development program. In her proposed curriculum, students could begin Child Development in ninth grade and then as Juniors and Seniors, begin field experience work in the district’s elementary schools. Also, this program is exploring the possibility of including College in High School credit upon completion. 

Emily Pike 

Kentucky Affiliate 

Emily Pike is a dedicated and driven family and consumer science student. With a passion for understanding the dynamics of families, Emily has chosen to pursue a degree in this field to make a positive difference in students' lives. Throughout her academic journey, Emily has demonstrated a deep understanding of the subject matter through honors projects and coursework set in real world settings. In addition to her academic pursuits, Emily is a member of the Western Kentucky University Student Unit Chapter of AAFCS and serves as chair-elect for the AAFCS National Student Unit. Emily also volunteers at regional and state FCCLA competitions and conferences to become a more well rounded educator for her future students. Overall, Emily Pike embodies the qualities of a dedicated and passionate family and consumer science student. Her commitment to going beyond her academics into professional organizations and aiding student organizations sets her apart and positions her for success in her endeavors. 

Kathryn Carroll, CFCS, CPFFE 

Arkansas Affiliate  

Kathryn Carroll, CFCS, CPFFE is an Assistant Professor of Family and Consumer Sciences at the University of Central Arkansas. She teaches undergraduate and graduate courses in UCA’s FCS program, including a Service-Learning personal finance course. Kathryn also serves as an academic advisor for students pursuing the M.S. in FCS degree. She is a Faculty Affiliate of the Arkansas Center for Research in Economics’ Social Studies Library and a former UCA Service-Learning Faculty Fellow. As a researcher, she uses experiments and survey research to examine questions in the area of consumer decision-making. Recent collaborations have included projects with several nonprofit organizations, resulting in publications in the Journal of Hunger & Environmental Nutrition, the Journal of Agriculture, Food Systems, and Community Development, and the International Journal of Home Economics. Kathryn also serves on the Board of Directors for ArAFCS. She enjoys spending time with her family and their two rescue dogs. 

Virginia N. (Ginnie) Parker, CFCS 

Vermont Affiliate  

Virginia N. “Ginnie” Parker is a doctoral student in FCS Education at Texas Tech University and a secondary FCS Teacher. She came to the profession in 2017 as a career-switcher after years of working in local government, office administration and nonprofit fine and performing arts. As an adult learner, she earned her undergraduate degree from the University of Virginia and Masters of Arts in Teaching – Secondary Education from Liberty University. A native of coastal Virginia, she now resides in the Green Mountain State, Vermont, with her family. She serves on her local education association (VTNEA and NEA affiliate) executive board as treasurer and as secretary of the Vermont Association of FCS. She earned CFCS status in 2023. 

Much like Aesop’s fable of the town mouse and country mouse, she finds the juxtaposition of different regions of the U.S. fascinating. Her research interests include inter- and intrapersonal communications, rurbanity, and media. 

Marissa Cheslock 

Fashion Design Program Student, University of Cincinnati