The Family, Career and Community Leaders of America (FCCLA) National Leadership Conference brought more than 8,700 student leaders, members, and advisers to Anaheim, California June 30-July 4. Nebraska FCCLA was well represented by more than 350 students, advisers, and guests.
This year’s conference theme encouraged participants to “Believe in Yourself” through competitive events, running for office, partaking in a Leadership Academy, and continuing to make a positive impact within their families, communities, and careers.
“It is always inspiring to watch so many young leaders come together and realize their full potential through competition, career training, and leadership workshops,” said Sandy Spavone, Executive Director of FCCLA. “This National Leadership Conference was a great success thanks to the National Board of Directors, National Staff, National Executive Council and their advisers, as well as the students, advisers, and organization’s supporters.”
Madeline Wittstruck from Milford High School was one of ten national officers elected to serve on the FCCLA National Executive Council. Madeline will be FCCLA’s Vice-President of Finance for the 2019-2020 year. Being elected to serve on the National Executive Council is the highest leadership honor an FCCLA member can achieve.
For the first time in many years, Nebraska had two National Program Award winners. The Twin River FCCLA Chapter’s FACTS (Families Acting for Community Traffic Safety) National Program Award application was selected as first place in the high school division receiving a $1,000 award for their efforts of increasing seat belt usage in their community. The Howells-Dodge FCCLA Chapter’s STOP the Violence National Program Award application was selected as first place in the high school division receiving a $1,000 award for their efforts in reducing relationship and dating violence in their school.
During the NLC, Nebraska’s FCCLA State Officer Team participated in the Leadership Academy, developing leadership, employability, and 21st Century skills. Through the program, members were given the opportunity to explore and practice essentials for the roles of family member, wage earner, and community leader.
In addition to the many learning and networking experiences offered at the conference, more than 30 Family and Consumer Sciences-related competitive events, also known as STAR (Students Taking Action with Recognition) events, were offered with more than 4,700 competitors. Nebraska had 167 participants who came home with 96 Gold medals, 60 Silver Medals, and 11 Bronze medals and had multiple individuals and teams score in the top 10 nationally.
Nebraska members brought home 56 Top Ten award winning events. The Top Ten award winners nationally include:
First Place
· Annie Corkle, O’Neill – Career Investigation, Jr. Gold
· Miranda Batenhorst and Addison Lange, Scribner-Snyder – Chapter in Review Display, Jr. Gold
· Zach Thomas, Gibbon – FCCLA Chapter Website, Occupational Gold
· Hailey Bixler, Neligh-Oakdale – FCCLA Chapter Website, Sr. Gold
· Sydney Erickson, Pierce – Job Interview, Gold
· Samuel Coble, Mullen – Life Event Planning, Jr. Gold
· Josiah Gonzales, Scottsbluff – Say Yes to FCS Education, Gold
Second Place
· Rachel Malander, Boone Central – Career Investigation, Jr. Gold
· Claire Harrison, Franklin – Chapter in Review Display, Sr. Gold
· Taylor Svobada, Mullen – Entrepreneurship, Jr. Gold
Third Place
· Sabra Schmidt, Medicine Valley – Digital Stories for Change, Sr. Gold
· Rebekka Jay, Logan View – FCCLA Chapter Website, Jr. Gold
· Isadora Schwab, Fairbury – FCCLA Chapter Website, Occupational Gold
· Emma Hoffschneider, Burwell – Job Interview, Gold
· Caitlin Murphy, Exeter-Milligan – Leadership, Gold
Fourth Place
· Alaina Eberle and Stella Heapy, Medicine Valley – Chapter in Review Display, Jr. Gold
· Joseph Brown, Medicine Valley – FCCLA Chapter Website, Jr. Silver
· Aleesha Bergman and Meredith Wiseman, Neligh-Oakdale – Chapter in Review Display, Sr. Gold
· Natalie Engel, Sydney Lindstedt, Margaret McGinnis, Cozad – Chapter in Review Portfolio, Sr. Gold
· Jaycee Wallace, Overton – Chapter Service Project Portfolio, Sr., Gold
· Bailey Harpham and Samantha Miller, Logan View – Digital Stories for Change, Jr. Gold
· Blake Byerly, Bloomfield – Entrepreneurship, Jr., Gold
· Jean Cumming, Saint Edward – Focus on Children, Jr. Gold
· Whitney Bauer and Morgan Sindt, Elm Creek – National Programs in Action, Sr. Gold
· Wyatt Ehlers, Chambers – Sports Nutrition Jr. Gold
Fifth Place
· Cindy Cooper and Genevieve Dominguez, Maxwell – Interpersonal Communications, Jr. Gold
· Alexis Richmond, Chase County – Leadership, Gold
· Ryanna Polenske, Waverly – Nutrition and Wellness Sr., Gold
Sixth Place
· Alexis Butterfield and Ryann Haburchak, Chambers – Environmental Ambassador, Sr. Gold
· Trevor Strain and Mackenzie Whitlow, Twin River – FCCLA Chapter Website, Sr. Gold
· Naudia Larsen and Madeline Wittstruck, Milford – Interpersonal Communications, Sr. Gold
· Carlin Adams, Calyn Mowinkel, Elizabeth Ross, Milford – National Programs in Action, Sr. Gold
· Kyler Horn, Brady – Recycle and Redesign, Sr. Gold
Seventh Place
· Elissa Dames and Jillian Dames, Scribner-Snyder – Digital Stories for Change, Sr. Gold
· Kamryn Lemburg, Rachel Strain, Makynzie Swantek, Twin River – National Programs in Action, Jr. Gold
· Ella Hostetler, Milford – Promote and Publicize FCCLA Jr. Gold
· Skylar Long, Neligh-Oakdale – Teach and Train Sr. Gold
Eighth Place
· Brin Jinright and Asya Johnson, Centennial – Baking and Pastry Pilot, Bronze
· Melissa Sextro and Kiersten Wheller, Boyd County – Illustrated Talk, Sr. Gold
· Andrea Hipke, Kiryn Kayl, Kaci Machino, Boyd County – Interior Design, Gold
· Jose Luna-Duran and Lesly Luna-Duran, Neligh-Oakdale – Life Event Planning, Sr. Gold
· Ashley Pischel, O’Neill – Nutrition and Wellness, Jr. Silver
· Jenny Goesch, Boyd County – Recycle and Redesign, Sr. Gold
· Lilly Hoerle, Chambers – Teach and Train Jr. Silver
Ninth Place
· Ali Cottrell, Hannah Schultz, Raine Taylor, Medicine Valley – Chapter Service Project Display, Sr. Gold
· Tessa Cherry, Libby Held, and Chloe Pilakowski, Twin River – Food Innovations, Jr. Gold
· Haley Jones, Mullen – Hospitality, Tourism and Recreation, Sr. Gold
· Hailey Hanneman and Grace Ziegler, Aurora – Life Event Planning, Jr. Gold
· Abby Lawton, Overton – National Programs in Action Jr. Gold
· Mackynna Gross, Seward – Say Yes to FCS Education, Silver
· Cassidy June, Milford – Teach and Train Jr., Silver
Tenth Place
· Railey Riggs and Lainey Werts, St. Edward – Applied Math for Culinary Management, Bronze
· Hanna Marshall and Molly Paxton, Mullen – Entrepreneurship, Sr. Gold
· Madison Brainard, Scribner-Snyder – FCCLA Chapter Website, Sr. Silver
· Sicily Goossen, Alyssa Gourley, and Jayden Sorsensen – Food Innovations, Sr. Gold
· Paige Nolan, Humphrey – Nutrition and Wellness, Jr. Silver
Other national award winners included:
Say Yes to FCS National Signing Day Recognition:
· Josiah Gonzales – Scottsbluff (FCS Education Major at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln)
· William Wilton – Centennial (FCS Education Major at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln)
Kikkoman Foundation Japanese Exchange Scholarship:
· Rashell Neefe – Hemingford High School
Advisor award winners included:
2019 Spirit of Advising Award
· Mary Lou Vossler, Exeter-Milligan Public School
Adviser Mentor Award
· Suzanne Martin, Medicine Valley Public Schools
Master Advisor
· Britton Andreasen, Twin River Public Schools
FCCLA Adviser Academy Participants
· Jennifer Cramer, Kearney High School
· Amy Mach, Millard West High School
· Kim Nolte, Falls City Public Schools
FCCLA Adviser Academy Graduates
· Miranda Bright, Crete Public Schools
· Carmen Hall, Omaha Bryan High School
· Michelle Irvine, Cozad High School
Family, Career and Community Leaders of America (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. FCCLA has over 175,000 members and more than 5,300 chapters from 50 state associations, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands. Nebraska FCCLA is supported through the Nebraska Center for Student Leadership and Extended Learning at the Nebraska Department of Education.
