Osborne Web Media Team
by Brooke Befort
Osborne Jr./Sr. High School hosted the Family Career Community Leaders of America STAR events on February 8th, 2023. Osborne had six members compete at the District B STAR Event competition.
To create a STAR Event the students first have to find an event that best fits them. After they find an event that best fits their interest, they have to complete the FCCLA Planning Process where they identify concerns, set goals, and make a plan. They then have to put their plan into action and follow up. There is a rubric for each event that they are allowed to participate in and they have to follow that rubric to create their project. Lastly, they form a presentation that shows their project and how they met their goals.
On February 8th, six OHS students were judged on their presentations. All of Osborne’s participants will advance to the State Competition in Wichita in April! The following students competed in STAR Events:
Kaitlin Kendig - Fashion Construction (Silver)
Addison Poore - Food Innovations (Gold)
Allison Cole & Teagan Ellenz - Nutrition and Wellness (Silver)
Spencer Nichols - Repurpose Redesign (Silver)
Annie Kendig - Sports Nutrition (Silver)
Osborne’s FCCLA organization has had a strong history of leadership within our school and community. Carol Nichols was the advisor for over 25 years and had great success throughout the years. When Mrs. Nichols first started in 1981, this organization was called FHA (Future Homemakers of America). Since then, the organization has changed its name to FCCLA (Future Career Community Leaders of America). Since the organization has changed its name, Mrs.Nichols said “many more leadership opportunities have opened for everyone involved.” Going to Nationals was one of her favorite things that they did in FCCLA. They started to have more success in STAR Events over the years, which made many more life long memories for members in FCCLA. In order for them to be able to financially go on these trips, they had to fundraise money. “The members learned a lot about catering meals and how to appreciate the opportunities” stated Mrs.Nichols.
FCCLA also provides volunteer opportunities through the STAR Event competitions. Each chapter has to bring judges to the competition and Beth Schultze, one of our own at USD 392, was a judge for STAR Events for many years. Beth said that, “Being prepared, their display, and physical appearance” were just a few of the key things that she looked for during a STAR Event Presentation. She judged at the district level and she also judged a few at the state level. Beth really enjoyed all the years that she got to judge. She stated that, “any presentation that the students showed passion for or when they are truly involved in a project” were the presentations that stood out the most to her.
The current FCCLA Advisor is Bethany Knoll. Mrs.Knoll is in her second year of being an advisor and she had stated in her interview that “FCCLA is not just contained in just your school, it is a national club. If you want to develop leadership skills then you basically have unlimited potential in front of you.” Teagan Ellenz & Allison Cole have competed in STAR Events for two years. According to Teagan, the hardest part of the STAR Event was “decorating last year’s STAR Event board and making it perfect”. The hardest part that Allison states was “doing the paperwork that is required.”
OHS is proud of the impact that FCCLA has had on our students and hopes that it will continue to teach students to serve others and take advantage of leadership opportunities that the organization provides. We wish the best of luck to the six students with their STAR Events that will compete at the state level on April 16-18 in Wichita!