FCCLA students to hear about bullying

More than 1,000 middle and high school students will gather

for Minnesota FCCLA’s (Family, Career, and Community Leaders of America) annual State Leadership Conference at the DoubleTree Hotel April 11-13.

This year’s student-created theme is “iSucceed!” Chapters from across the state compete in STAR (Students Taking Action with Recognition) Events, participate in youth-training workshops, and take interest in general sessions lead by student officers of the organization that showcase this year’s successes.

Highlights of the conference include keynote speaker Craig Scott with a presentation on bullying, student officer elections on

the regional and state level, fitness activities, and more. This weekend gives members,

advisors, parents, and community leaders the opportunity to unite and collaborate in a

positive, youth-orientated atmosphere.

Craig Scott, this year’s keynote speaker, was a student at Columbine High School

over a decade ago where his sister, Rachel Joy Scott, was the first of 13 victims shot.

The Scott family started an organization, Rachel’s Challenge, that believes in

combating youth violence through a curriculum of kindness and compassion, keeping

Rachel’s spirit and morals alive. Student FCCLA officers learned about the program at

Minnesota’s November Summit conference, and it has inspired schools statewide to

incorporate Rachel’s Challenge locally. FCCLA’s State Peer Education team will moderate

various Rachel activities throughout State Conference: Additionally, State Peer

Educators are well knowledgeable in the National FCCLA program STOP the Violence

(STOP standing for Students Taking On Prevention) to incorporate this curriculum into

the conference.

Another feature at the state conference includes participation in over 30 different

categories through STAR Events. Chapter members give presentations about projects

they’ve organized and executed this past year—having advanced from Regional

competitions—for an opportunity to attend the National Leadership Conference in

Nashville this summer. Projects cover a wide scope of current issues that address

anything from bullying, to fitness, to traffic safety. Students attend an Academy Awards

session Friday evening to receive STAR Event results, including awards in bronze, silver,

and gold categories dependent on performance. Many STAR Events give students the

opportunity to ignite youth leadership in the community, stressing cooperation as the

basis of success.

FCCLA—a nationwide Career and Technical Student Organization—helps students

develop leadership skills and address important societal issues through Family and

Consumer Sciences education. The organization nationally has over 200,000 members

from 50 state associations, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands, involving more than 10 million

youth since its founding in 1945.

Tags: news, updates, bullying