Allyson Hanna has done her hometown proud by bringing home a state-level win from the Tennessee 4-H Round-Up and All-Star Conference. The 16-year-old homeschooler is a junior this year, and she won her division with a Senior Level 1 consumer education project on the Consumer Bill of Rights.

Hanna has been active in 4-H since she was in the fifth grade, and she credits the program with helping her grow as a leader and a team player.

"It's really taught me a lot about being a leader," she said. "But it's also taught me how to work as a team. As a homeschooler, it's important to get out and do things with other people. I feel like 4-H has really connected me. I know kids in other states through 4-H and all over Tennessee."

Her choice of topic reflects Hanna's evolving career choices. She started her 4-H portfolio in veterinary science because she thought she wanted to be a veterinarian. She changed her mind thanks to a school project and her job in a restaurant, deciding to go into business hospitality and management, hoping to one day manage a restaurant, hotel or tourism business.

"I love fulfilling what the customer wants," she said. "Just to see them happy and satisfied really makes me happy."

She chose consumer education in 4-H because it most closely matched her career choice, and a project centered on the Consumer Bill of Rights was right up her alley. She did the work on her own, researching, assembling a tri-fold display and compiling a portfolio.

Ask Hanna and she'll tell you, the Consumer Bill of Rights was first described by President John. F. Kennedy in 1962. Kennedy created four "rights" for consumers, including the right to safety, the right to be informed, the right to choose and the right to be heard. In the 1980s, four more rights were added to address international consumer issues.

In 4-H, consumer education "is about how to use your resources wisely, budgeting, finances and economics," said Hanna.

"I decided to take on the economic side of it," she added. "I thought that's something that's important to America, and I should talk about it."

Hanna took her project through the Union County 4-H competition, to a regional competition, and then to the State Round-Up at University of Tennessee Martin. Judges evaluated her portfolio prior to the event for half the score. The other half was an in-person interview in front of three judges with questions about Hanna's project and her overall 4-H experience.

"4-H teaches you hard work because if you want to do a project in 4-H you've got to put in the hard work," she said.

Hanna plans to compete again next year in Senior Level 2.

"I would encourage any high schooler if they can to think about going to Round-Up and giving an interview. Even if you don't win, it's an amazing trip. You learn so much from all the project groups and 4-H in general," she said.

Hanna thanked the donors who supported her interviews and the people who donated the students' awards. Hanna's award was given in honor of Margaret M. Pile by Mandy Wilson. She won a ribbon, a glass pyramid statue and a $500 scholarship to UT if she majors in family and consumer sciences.

She also thanked local mentors Bill and Debbie Morgan for their encouragement and advice over the years.

"I still ask them all my questions," she said. "Being former Extension Agents, they have all the answers and encourage me to keep working hard in my project."

After graduation, Hanna plans to attend Pellissippi State for the first two years of college before transferring to UT.

State Council members Kennedy Hill and Savannah Jones also represented Union County at the State Round-Up.