Local students elected, earn honors at FCCLA 2020 State Leadership Conference

MONTGOMERY, Ala. – More than 1,000 attendees from all over the state of Alabama traveled to Montgomery March 5-6 for the Family, Career and Community Leaders of America (FCCLA) 2020 State Leadership Conference.  This two-day conference offered FCCLA members opportunities to strengthen leadership skills, explore career pathways and compete in career-applicable skill demonstration competitions.  FCCLA is a dynamic and effective national student organization that helps young men and women become leaders and address important personal, family, work and societal issues through family and consumer sciences education. 

During this FCCLA State Leadership Conference, Madeline Mitchell from Cold Springs High School and Kate Rains from Cullman High School ran for an FCCLA State Officer position.  Thirteen total students from all over the state of Alabama ran for the six officer positions.  The students had to complete an interview and impromptu speech for judges, and then answer a question on stage and present a speech on stage for their peers to judge.  Mitchell and Rains were voted in by their peers to be on the 2020-2021 FCCLA Executive Council.  Mitchell is the new vice president of Students Taking Action with Recognition (STAR) Events and Rains is the new vice president of Programs. 

During their time of office, the two students will review the aims and objectives of the state program of FCCLA; recommend the establishment of programs, projects and activities; plan the program for the State Leadership Conference and Joint Leadership Development Conference and attend the national meeting in Washington, D.C.; conduct the official business of the organization at the National Leadership Conference; and interpret and advocate the goals and program activities of FCCLA to groups and individuals within the organization.

STAR Events are competitive events in which members compete at the region/district, state and national levels and are recognized for proficiency and achievement in chapter and individual projects, leadership skills and career preparation. STAR Events allow students to compete individually or as a team. There are more than 30 STAR Events students can choose to compete in, all which recognize participants who demonstrate their knowledge, skills, and abilities to actively identify an issue concerning families, careers or communities, research the topic, and develop and implement a project to advocate for positive change.

Cold Springs High School and Cullman High School Students competed this year in the FCCLA STAR Events competition in Montgomery. 

The Cold Springs group consisted of the following four categories: Mitchell entered the Leadership competition and placed High Gold and Bailey Sharp and Piper Stricklin entered the Event Management competition and won High Gold. Both groups will be able to compete at Nationals in Washington, D.C.  Lizzie Rooker placed Silver in the Career Investigation Competition and Natalie Davis and Emily Sharp Placed Silver in the Interior Design Competition.  

The Cullman High School group consisted of the following six categories for STAR Events Competition:  Lanie Townson, Hanna McCaw and Alyssa Livengood entered the Food Innovations Competition. Kaina Thomas and Adyson Bauer entered the Sports Nutrition competition, and Ella Kate Green and Anna Page entered the Food Innovations Competition. All three groups placed Overall Gold and won a bid to compete at Nationals in Washington, D.C.  Olivia Wood entered the Career Investigation competition and placed Silver.  Ashleigh Drake, Christen Sorrow, and Kate Krigbaum entered the Nutrition and Wellness competition, and Annelise Turner and Bella McEachern entered the Repurpose and Redesign competition. Both groups placed Bronze.

The students that placed Overall Gold will be able to represent the state of Alabama at the FCCLA National Leadership Meeting this summer in Washington, D.C.  The National Leadership Conference will provide an opportunity for members and advisers to come together to expand leadership skills, sharpen talents, explore career pathways and compete nationally.  These students are becoming strong leaders in their families, careers and communities.