HEALDSBURG, Calif. — Fiona Affronti is a recent graduate of Healdsburg High School (HHS) and now a freshman student at UC Santa Barbara. While at HHS, she was on the varsity girls soccer team and ended up being the team captain in her senior year.

“Fiona Affronti was the consummate leader in a star-studded soccer career for the Hounds, infusing the team with toughness and production in four solid varsity campaigns,” Greg Clementi described in an article. “She assumed a strong leadership role as one of the team captains during the 2021 season, helping the Hounds reach league respectability”

Unknown to most people, this athlete had other interests apart from soccer and all of them had something to do with leadership. While in HHS, she was part of the school’s Future Farmers of America (FFA) program, which is built with the mission of making “a positive difference in the lives of students by developing their potential for premier leadership, personal growth and career success through agricultural education.”

She was also an active member of the Associated Students Body (ASB), the world-famous Greyhound band and digital film.

When asked how she became engaged in such a wide variety of leadership experiences, Affronti responded with an attitude of adventure.

“Not really knowing what I wanted to do was the best thing going into high school,” she said. “I have this philosophy of ‘why not try it?’ If you don’t like it, great, then you know at least one more thing you don’t want to do. I’ve definitely done a little bit of everything, from fine arts to agriculture to leadership, and all of them have taught me some really important skills that have shaped me into who I am today.”

She amassed several titles and recognitions, including but not limited to:

• GPA of 4.26
• Over 150 hours volunteering with groups such as Alexander Valley Film Society, Healdsburg FFA, Vote Forward and Cazadero music camp
• Senior Class President
• Junior Class President
• Team captain, Healdsburg girls varsity soccer
• North Coast region agriculture communications proficiency Winner
• Sonoma section first place extemporaneous public speaking
• Healdsburg FFA chapter reporter
• Numerous Healdsburg and California FFA awards and recognitions

One of her more notable acts happened during the pandemic when she organized a Zoom meeting to hear from students about their concerns and worries since the school had started distance learning in August. The response, while strong, highlighted the challenges that her teachers face in meeting students where they are. She was worried about the students who had been completely MIA all semester. She wanted to be able to reach these people and make sure they were okay.

Affronti also won the award for the 2021 Jack Vallerga Female Scholar-Athlete, along with a host of others, when she graduated from HHS. She is now majoring in communications at UC Santa Barbara.

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