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, Texas for the 2014 National Leadership Conference. Kelsi Manz and Tiffany Spangler, recent graduates of Paulding High School and members of the Paulding High School – Vantage Career Center Satellite FCCLA, were among the members that took part in STAR Event Competitions at the conference.
FCCLA offers over 30 Family and Consumer Sciences related events, also known as STAR (Students Taking Action with Recognition) events. Members compete at the District, State and National level. This year, Kelsi Manz and Tiffany Spangler were among over 4,200 STAR Event participants who competed in San Antonio.
This is the largest number of competitors at any National STAR Events competition. Kelsi and Tiffany competed in the National Programs in Action STAR Event – Leadership Service in Action. Their project was titled “Bookin’ it to Ethiopia”. Kelsi and Tiffany raised over $30,000.00 to build a library in Mekele, Ethiopia. After graduation, they traveled to Ethiopia to paint, furnish, and dedicate the new library. Kelsi and Tiffany received the highest award, a gold medal for their project. They scored a 99.3 out of 100 points on their project.
Family, Career and Community Leaders of America is a national Career and Technical Student organization that provides personal growth, leadership development, and career preparation opportunities for students in Family and Consumer Sciences education. FCCLA has 200,000 members and more than 5,500 chapters from 49 state associations, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands. The organization has involved more than ten million youth since its founding in 1945.
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.
