LOCAL STUDENTS RECOGNIZED FOR OUTSTANDING

SKILLS IN NATIONAL COMPETITION

Orlando, FL. – Vallaria Morgan, Arsenio Thatch, Lakendra McGuire, Breanna Webb and Heather Sawyer, of Austin High School recently participated in the STAR (Students Taking Action with Recognition) Events at Family, Career and Community Leaders of America’s (FCCLA) 2008 National Leadership Meeting.

Heather Sawyer, who is a recent graduated senior received a Gold medal in Applied Technology, one of 16 national STAR Events available to FCCLA students. Her medal was presented at a recognition session honoring all participants at the Orange County Convention Center on Thursday, July 17. More than 5,000 members, advisers, alumni, and guests from across the nation attended the meeting. Nearly 2,500 students advanced from the local, regional, and state level of STAR Events to the national meeting. 

 Heather used her Family and Consumer Sciences related occupation skills to develop a project using technology that addresses a concern related to Family and Consumer Sciences and/or related occupations and integrates and applies content from academic subjects. Heather is the first to receive a national gold medal in this category for Austin High’s FCCLA chapter and the second national gold medal for the chapter to date.

Vallaria Morgan and Arsenio Thatch, who are also recent graduated seniors competed with Lakendra McGuire and Breanna Webb, who are upcoming Juniors at Austin High. They each received a Bronze medal in Parliamentary Procedure which is a team event that recognizes students that develop a working knowledge of parliamentary law and the ability to conduct an FCCLA business meeting.  Both categories are a first for Austin’s FCCLA chapter to compete in at the national level.

 

 

 

OUR ADVISOR RECOGNIZED AT NATIONAL MEETING

Ms. Bethany Gonzalez, one of the Austin High FCCLA chapter advisors, received the 2008 Spirit of Advising Award. This is an honor bestowed on only one FCCLA chapter adviser from each state. Each state adviser nominates a candidate who has exemplified the characteristics of a great adviser.

            The criterion that this award is based upon is the ability to recognize chapter advisers who are constantly faithful and often quietly working behind the scenes to ensure the success of their students. These are the advisers whose patience, good humor, flexibility, and skill form the foundation of FCCLA at the local and state levels. Ms. Gonzalez is a wonderful example of what the Spirit of Advising Award is all about. 

            Without capable adult leaders, students could not take advantage of the many opportunities offered through FCCLA. Being an effective adviser takes special skills and a tremendous commitment of time and energy. Exceptional advisers motivate their chapters to take advantage of opportunities beyond the local level, use a wide variety of resources available to them, and encourage student involvement. 

Who are we? 

Welcome to the Austin High School Family Career Community Leaders  of America  website run by local officer, Breanna Webb. The organization was created in 1945 by youth and adult leaders, in home economics, who wanted to establish an organization for youths, supported and run by youth, where young men an women would learn leadership skills, prepare for adult hood, and have fun. We as a local chapter work hard throughout the year to accomplish that very mission through the various projects chaired by local officers and members under the direction of our advisors Ms. Bethany Gonzalez and Mrs. Mae Edwards. 

The FCCLA was founded in 1945 under the name Future Homemakers of America (FHA). Over the past 61 years, FCCLA has changed and evolved into what it is today. We are the ONLY in-school organization where the main focus is the family. There are, nationally, 220,000 members in approximately 7,500 local chapters in 53 states (including District of Columbia, US Virgin Islands, and Puerto Rico) We are the group that works to make our local community a better place for all through local chapter projects such as our FACTS program that helps tell our community about the dangers on the road and our Student Body program that helps teach our fellow students about the importance of a healthy life style.

If you would like to know more about FCCLA, click here.