This year included a wide range of activities for Family, Career and Community Leaders of America (FCCLA) at Highlands High School. FCCLA is a student organization focused on leadership skills, community service and career development through family consumer sciences. The Highlands High School chapter is led by student officers and advised by Fashion and Child Development Services teacher Ahren Wagner.
Members participated in leadership development, community service, competitions and opportunities for social interaction and collaboration. The organization remained active throughout the school and in the community.
Community service is a major part of FCCLA’s work this year. Members took part in projects that supported the local community, including pop tab drives, adopt a family gift drive, blanket making for pediatric cancer patients in Cincinnati hospitals, a book drive, cooking for a local women’s shelter during National FCCLA week and much more.
FCCLA also helped plan and support local school and community events. These included planning aspects of Homecoming such as the theme, parade, spirit week, the Fort Thomas Holiday walk where an informational table and activities were set up, parents night out and prepping faculty breakfast during National FCCLA week. These gave members experience in event organization and teamwork.
Members also participated in regional and state competitions, where students took part in STAR Events. Star Events (Students Taking Action with Recognition) are competitive, performance based events in which members plan, develop and present projects that demonstrate skills in real world areas and family consumer sciences. These projects involve research, displays and oral presentations which are then judged at a regional, state and even national level. Members worked on and prepared for their STAR event projects over several months. Regional star events, where multiple schools from other schools compete, took place at Newport High School on Saturday, Feb. 21. Many members placed first in areas such as professional presentation, sports nutrition, focus on children, event management, fashion design and interior design.
“I have loved to see my fellow members succeed in STAR events and completing degrees. I know that those I worked with this past year will make the future of our FCCLA chapter bright,” Vice President of Competitive Events Addison Eiffert (12) said.
Those who placed first at region advanced to the State Leadership Conference in Louisville, Kentucky which took place March 24-27. They competed at a state level and participated in leadership workshops throughout the trip. Those who placed first or second in their event will compete at nationals this summer in Washington, D.C.
Members attended regional meetings in both the fall and spring, where they connected with other chapters, participated in leadership activities, trained and installed new regional officers and heard from guest speakers related to the statewide community service project. The Kentucky statewide community service project for 2025-2027 is Rally The Red, aiming to support those with pediatric cancer.
Members also had opportunities to travel for leadership experiences. Most officers attended the National Fall Institute in Orlando, Florida from Oct. 15-19, where they participated in workshops, conferences and visited Disney World. In addition, some members attended National Capital Leadership in Washington, D.C from Nov. 15-19, where they took part in leadership and advocacy training and explored the capitol.
The chapter will conclude the year with a banquet on May 6 at 5:30 p.m, where members will celebrate this year’s activities, recognize achievements and induct chapter new officers.
“FCCLA has truly helped me embrace passions from photography to entrepreneurship. I would like to give all my thanks to my chapter officers and president,” chapter Vice President of Public Relations Grace Burnett (12) said.
Overall, FCCLA had a busy and successful year. Members grew as leaders, helped their community and participated in many different activities throughout the year.
