Stafford Technical Center Students Excel in STAR Event Competition at FCCLA National Leadership Conference
July 11, 2014 –More than 7,000 Family, Career and Community Leaders of America (FCCLA) members, advisers, alumni, and guests from across the country gathered in San Antonio for the 2014 National Leadership Conference. Jessica Alexzandrikc, a 2014 graduate of Rutland High School and Sarah Mace a senior from Mill River Union High School, were among the members and took part in STAR Event Competitions at the conference. Both were enrolled in the Stafford Technical Center Human Services Program during the 2013-2014 school year.
FCCLA offers over 30 Family and Consumer Sciences related events, also known as STAR (Students Taking Action with Recognition) events. These events include Illustrated Talk, Early Childhood, Job Interview, and Focus on Children to name a few. Members compete at the State and National level. This year, Alexzandrikc and Mace were among over 4200 STAR Event participants who competed this week in San Antonio. This is the largest number of competitors at any National STAR Events competition. Alexzandrikc and Mace competed as a team in the Focus on Children Event. Their project focused on helping teachers and future teachers learn how to work with children who have experienced trauma in their lives. Their project was titled, “Teaching With Trauma.” Jessica and Sarah received a gold medal in the event.
National Leadership Conference provided opportunities for students and advisers to come together for fun and to listen to inspiring speakers, as well as to expand their leadership skills, sharpen their talents and explore possible career pathways. The student originated theme of this year’s conference was “SOAR” and attendees were challenged to go beyond what was expected of them to make lasting, positive impressions in their families, schools and communities.
As part of that platform, FCCLA students who attended the meetings in San Antonio gathered and donated baby supplies for the on-site community service project, Operation Homefront. The students had the opportunity to present all of the baby supplies they collected to Operation Homefront, a non-profit organization that provides emergency, financial and other assistance to the families of our service members and wounded warriors. Operation Homefront will distribute the supplies through their Star Spangled Babies baby shower program. This program builds morale by providing baby showers to our service members and their growing families.