FRANKFORT — Kentucky’s Family, Career and Community Leaders of America members won many awards and accolades at the FCCLA 2012 National Leadership Conference.
More than 150 Kentucky FCCLA members, advisers, alumni and guests joined 6,800 others nationwide July 8-12 in Orlando, Fla., for the conference. The Kentucky delegation received a certificate for an increase in membership; the state now has 6,481 members and 138 chapters.
This year’s student-originated theme for the annual national meeting was “#realitycheck.” Throughout the five-day convention, participants examined and discussed several critical issues, including family, school and community violence prevention, physical as well as financial fitness, future career exploration and countless community service projects.
A number of relevant youth issues, such as the changing roles of men and women in the home and workplace, leadership and obesity prevention, were also explored at the meeting through presentations, workshops and youth sessions. More than 3,600 students competed in STAR Events (Students Taking Action with Recognition), which are competitive events that build proficiency and achievement in leadership and job-related skills. Eighty-six Kentucky students competed, with 43 receiving Gold recognition, 39 Silver and four Bronze.
Kentucky National Star winners 2012 from this area include:
Boyle — Raygan Kilby and Julia Little, Chapter Chowcase Display, Junior, silver; Amber Henry and Mallory Ritter, Chapter Showcase Manual Junior, bronze; Kennedy Walls and Ashley White, Entrepreneurship, Junior, gold.
Mercer — Laura Cohee, Alyn Guay and Destin Jenkins, Illustrated Talk Senior, silver.
Other meeting highlights included:
A donation of $37,488.71 was presented to Share Our Strength from National FCCLA to fight childhood hunger. In addition, more than 15,000 pairs of shoes were collected to benefit Soles4Souls.
Spotlight on Projects, where representatives from states share successful national, state or chapter projects.
Family, Career and Community Leaders of America, is a 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. FCCLA has more than 200,000 members and more than 6,500 chapters from 50 state associations, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands. The organization has involved more than 10 million youth since its founding in 1945.
