***Press Release***
Fifteen members of the Merino Chapter of Family, Career and Community Leaders of America recently returned from the 2012 National Leadership Meeting in Orlando, FL. The conference theme was “#realitycheck” and focused on the use of social media. The FCCLA app was released during the meeting. Almost 7000 members attended the conference and more than half of the students took part in FCCLA’s competitive events. During the conference, Josh Baker, Theo Kurtzer, Trevor Rinaldo, Lisa Shinn, and Curtis Tappy served as ushers.
Alexandra Kirschbaum, a senior at Merino High School and Colorado FCCLA Association's Vice President of Peer Education and Programs, received training for the National Programs Team. As a Colorado FCCLA State Officer, she will work with other state FCCLA youth leaders to plan training seminars, leadership meetings, and program workshops to be attended by many of the state’s 2100 plus members.
Fourteen Merino FCCLA members were among nearly 4000 students at the meeting participating at the national level in 30 STAR Events. They received their medals during the recognition session honoring all participants at the Rosen Shingle Creek Ballroom on Thursday, July 12. FCCLA’s STAR Events program is based on the belief that every student is a winner. Competition, evaluation, and recognition all stress cooperation as the basis of success. Both youth and adults work together as managers of the events and as evaluators of the participants. Aly Aldrich, Sydney Hooton, Anna Kindvall, Makaya Lechman, Alexandra Kirschbaum, Malia Michel, Danielle Rinaldo, Alexis Shinn, and Doug Unrein were STAR Events evaluators and room consultants.
Anna Kindvall, Malia Michel, and Danielle Rinaldo, who are 2012 graduates of Merino High School, received gold medals in the Chapter Service Project Display Event. This event recognizes chapters that develop and implement an in-depth service project that makes a worthwhile contribution to families, schools, and communities. Their display and presentation was entitled "Welcome to Colorful Wellness" and focused on the chapter's organization of the school-wide wellness program.
Sydney Hooton, Makaya Lechman, and Alexis Shinn, who will be seniors at Merino High School, received gold medals in the Chapter Showcase Display Event. This event recognizes chapters that develop and implement a well-balanced program of work and promote FCCLA and Family and Consumer Sciences skills to the community. Their display and presentation were entitled ‘We Love FCCLA."
Doug Unrein and Trevor Rinaldo, who will be seniors at Merino High School, received a gold medal in the Food Innovations Event. This event recognizes participants who demonstrate knowledge of the basic concepts of food product development by creating an original prototype formula, testing the product through focus groups, and developing a marketing strategy. They created a Butternut Squash Pasta with a Spicy Pesto Sauce for a scenario of an entrée that was high in protein but low in fat and sodium.
Josh Baker and Theo Kurtzer, who will be seniors at Merino High School, also received a gold medal in Food Innovations Event. They created a Zesty Prairie Soup that met their goal to address all the flavors of the tongue and use food products that are grown in Northeastern Colorado.
Gus Gill, Curtis Tappy, and Nick Vollmer, who will be sophomores at Merino High School, received gold medals in National Programs in Action Event. This team event recognizes participants who explain how the planning process was used to plan and implement a national program project. They organized phase 1 of the school garden project. Their presentation was entitled ‘Growing Our School.’
Aly Aldrich, a 2012 graduate of Merino High school, received a gold medal in Teach and Train Event. It is an individual event that recognizes participants for their exploration of the education and training fields through research and hands on experience. Aly explored elementary teaching and her presentation was entitled ‘Rainbows and Umbrella Blends.’
Family, Career and Community Leaders of America (FCCLA), is a dynamic and effective national student organization that helps young men and women become leaders and address important personal, family, work, and societal issues through Family and Consumer Sciences education. FCCLA has over 200,000 members and over 6,500 chapters from 50 state associations, Puerto Rico, Washington D.C. and the Virgin Islands. The organization has involved more than ten million youth since its founding in 1945.
FCCLA: The Ultimate Leadership Experience 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.
