LOCAL STUDENTS RECOGNIZED FOR OUTSTANDING SKILLS IN NATIONAL COMPETITION

Nashville, TN. – Three Florence High School Seniors recently participated in STAR Events (Students Taking Action with Recognition) at Family, Career and Community Leaders of America’s (FCCLA) 2009 National Leadership Conference in Nashville, Tennessee.

Alex Garza & Angie Martinez, who are Culinary Students at Florence High School, received a Gold medal in the Life Event Planning Category with the FHS Culinary’s Benefit for Honduras Dinner held last January. Jessica Armstead, a Family & Consumer Science student at Florence High, received a Bronze medal for the Chapter Service Project Display Event.  Jessica’s Display featured the Florence High School FCCLA’s service project that focused on Literacy by distributing and reading new children’s books to the students at Handy Head Start Preschool. Both events are part of 22 national STAR Events available to FCCLA students. The student’s medals were presented at a recognition session honoring all participants at the Gaylord Opryland Convention Center on Thursday, July 16. More than 5,300 members, advisers, alumni, and guests from across the nation attended the meeting. Nearly 3,000 students advanced from the local, regional, and state level of STAR Events to the national meeting. 

FCCLA’s STAR Events are based on the belief that every student is a winner. Competition, evaluation, and recognition all stress cooperation as the basis of success. Both youth and adults work together to manage the events and serve as evaluators of the participants. 

The medal winners, along with three other Florence High School FCCLA members, Leah Russell, Lizbeth Betancourt, and Lyna Schofield, participated in local fundraisers to cover their travel expenses for the 5 day conference.  The students were escorted by their FCCLA Adviser, Marsha Carter.  Each student enjoyed the conference and camaraderie with other students from all across the U.S., Puerto Rico, and even Japan, and have started making plans to attend next year’s Conference in Chicago, Illinois.

FCCLA is unique among youth organizations because its programs are planned and run by members.  It is the only career and technical in-school student organization with the family as its central focus.  Participation in national programs and chapter activities helps members become strong leaders in their families, careers, and communities.