Over 1,000 Nebraska Family, Career and Community Leaders of America (FCCLA) student members, adult advisers and guests recently gathered April 7-9, in the Lincoln Haymarket area for the annual State Leadership Conference. Attendees came from 90 Nebraska schools to grow their leadership skills, celebrate their accomplishments from the past year, and prepare for their future careers.
Students from Milford who placed include:
National Qualifier-Sadie Frazier, Digital Stories for Change, Top 15 National Finalist
National Qualifier-Stephen Vance, Teach or Train, State Champion
National Qualifier-Zephyr Mowinkel, Sports Nutrition, State Champion
National Qualifier-Annika Hendl, Interpersonal Communications, State Champion
National Qualifier-Maizie Kolb, Baking and Pastry, State Runner-Up
National Qualifiers-Tasha Anderson and Aubrey Burton, Event Management, State Runner-Up
National Qualifier-Emma Hershberger, Hospitality, Tourism, and Recreation, State Runner-Up
Addisen Delong, Janessa Stauffer, and Kyla Troyer, Chapter Service Project Portfolio Level 1, fourth place
Electa Restau and Nevaeh Spurling, Chapter Service Project Portfolio Level 2, third place
Karlee Kuklis and Addisyn Mowinkel, Chapter Service Project Portfolio Level 3, fourth place
Hattie Michaelis and Karissa Schweitzer, Entrepreneurship, fourth place
Jonny Kohout, Interior Design, fourth place
Jaycie Stutzman and Kayla Wilken, Professional Presentation, fifth place
Abigail Gropp, Repurpose and Redesign, fourth place
Holly Hostetler, Sustainability Challenge, fourth place
Throughout the day on April 8, participants had the opportunity to attend a variety
of breakout sessions presented by FCCLA leaders and outside partners, including Kaiti
Blackburn from Jana’s Campaign, Dr. Katie Graham and Sydney Kobza from the Nebraska
Department of Education, Hannah Van Horn from National Center for Families Learning,
Aimee Hoes from the Buffet Early Childhood Institute, and Reese Munson from the UNL Husker
Venture Fund.
The Opportunity Fair featured over 20 colleges, organizations, and businesses for
members to connect with. Students also had the opportunity to give back to the Lincoln
community through the FCCLA Serves projects. Students participated in service projects at the
Lincoln Children’s Museum and Food Bank of Lincoln. Members also had the opportunity to
choose from a variety of tours, including Hudl, Lied Center, UNL Food Innovation Center,
Nebraska State Capitol and Memorial Stadium.
The on-site service project involved bringing school supplies, which were donated to Visionary
Youth, whose mission is to impact families and change lives by supporting youth to reach their
full potential in the Lincoln community.
Over 570 students participated in STAR (Students Taking Action with Recognition) events,
FCCLA’s premier competitive event program. Students placing first and second in their
respective event level qualified to compete in the FCCLA National STAR Event Competition
which will take place during the National Leadership Conference in Seattle, Washington, June
29-July 3.
