Trading in face masks for red blazers, more than 3,500 students from around the country got a taste of normalcy at Family, Career and Community Leaders of America’s (FCCLA) National Leadership Conference, June 27-July 2, 2021. FCCLA’s student members were reunited in-person to participate in professional development opportunities, career exploration, and youth leadership sessions aimed at advancing families, careers, and communities through Family and Consumer Sciences education. Of the eight national Career and Technical Student Organizations (CTSOs), FCCLA is the only organization to host an in-person leadership conference this summer.
Midvale FCCLA members Lauryn Mitchell, Amanda Uhlenkott, and Jessie Cantrell attended Nationals, which they qualified for by receiving top scores in their events at the state level. While attending Nationals, they were presented with medals for their competitions at the National level. Jessie Cantrell received silver for her project in National Programs in Action-Level 2. Amanda Uhlenkott and Lauryn Mitchell received gold and the national first-place award for their project in National Programs in Action-Level 3. For their top placing, both Amanda and Lauryn were awarded with a $50,000 tuition scholarship to attend Sullivan University. While at the conference, Amanda and Lauryn participated in the AAFCS Personal and Family Finance exam. They were able to test their knowledge after completing a personal finance class at MHS last semester. They each successfully passed the assessment and earned the industry-recognized AAFCS Pre-Professional Certification. Other highlights from the trip included an evening at the Grand Ole Opry, lunch and music cruise on the General Jackson Steamboat, a tour of the National Museum of African American Music, and a zipline adventure through the Tennessee forest.These young leaders worked diligently on their community-focused projects throughout the year. They are deserving of the awards and the opportunity to attend the conference to represent the Midvale FCCLA Chapter.(Photo Left to Right) Jessie Cantrell, Lauryn Mitchel, Amanda Uhlenkott)
