Family and consumer science students at Nansemond River High School are fundraising to attend the 2014 FCCLA (Family, Career and Community Leaders of America) National Leadership Conference in San Antonio, Texas.

There, the school’s FCCLA chapter will be presented with the 2014 National Student Body Runner-Up Award, receiving a $500 check and trophy.

“It’s a big deal,” said Sally Karadeema, co-FCCLA adviser at Nansemond River with Deborah Creekmur.

Students in the chapter received the accolade after creating food diaries, learning about nutrition and portion-control, Karadeema said.

After comparing portion sizes to what’s recommended for their body types and activity levels, students devised healthy eating menus to share with their families, as well as a lesson plan on healthy eating for elementary schools.

Meanwhile, the Nansemond River students have worked on various other projects. Aliz Kemp and Haley Maxwell, in the Sports Nutrition category, devised a healthy meal plan for Nansemond River classmate Tatyana Thomas, a successful competitive volleyball player.

“It was a little difficult because she is allergic to everything,” Kemp said. “The only fruit she could eat were bananas and cantaloupe.”

“First we had to finds out her measurements and her daily schedule,” Maxwell said, adding that the athlete’s level of physical exertion was also accounted for.

Alexandria Beaman, in Recycle and Redesign, turned old woolen sweaters into purses, vests and other things. “I now plan to reuse things instead of throwing them away,” Beaman said.

In Entrepreneurship, Courtney Matthews and Lauren Snow came up with a plan for a cupcake business. “We had to make a whole menu, so that took a little more work, Matthews said, adding, “We both like to bake.”

Five students and three adults will attend the national conference, from July 5-11 according to Karadeema. “It’s very expensive,” she said.

To help cover the cost, they’ve been selling Krispy Kreme donuts — $8 per box — and “we’ll take any contribution we can get,” Karadeema said.

To help out, call Sally Karadeema at 932-4101.