Empowering Tomorrow’s Leaders: A Recap of the 2023 FCCLA NFC

Ady Klosterman and Mia Shrout

November 27, 2023

Features

The Highlands FCCLA NFC attendees stand together for a picture.

The air was heavy with anticipation and excitement as the Family, Career, and Community Leaders of America (FCCLA) gathered in Birmingham, Alabama, for their much-anticipated National Fall Conference. This annual event is fundamental to FCCLA’s purpose of empowering adolescents to become leaders in their families, workplaces, and communities. The 2023 conference in Birmingham was a transformative experience for attendees, giving a platform for personal growth, skill development, and community building.

FCCLA chapter advisor Ahren Wagner: “This is a fall conference for the entire nation…It’s kind of an introductory to FCCLA and all the activities and projects for the year…”

The variety of workshops and skill-building sessions was one of the highlights of the FCCLA National Fall Conference. Attendees were able to participate in hands-on activities, engaging conversations, and immersive experiences aimed at improving their leadership abilities.

When asked about some of the things that go on during these conferences, Wagner said: “There are team workshops, there are big general sessions, there are networking sessions, and then the competitive events.”

The National Fall Conference closed with a big celebration honoring FCCLA members’ accomplishments and highlighting the great projects and initiatives carried out during the event. Outstanding people and chapters were honored for their commitment to leadership, service, and community impact. Winners from Highlands included:

1st place: Katliyn Dixon (Sophomore) – ECE Challenge Test

1st place: Penelope Kolb (Sophomore) – ID challenge

1st place: Lucy Kovanda (Sophomore) – Fashion Construction and Design Challenge

1st place: Sophia Zahner (Sophomore) – Consumer Math Challenge

1st place: Lydia Richter (Senior) – Edu. and Training Challenge

2nd place: Cydni Martin (Sophomore) – Nutrition Challenge

3rd place: Addyson Eifert (Sophomore) – Culinary Knife Skills

3rd place: Lainey Wagner (Freshman) – Consumer Math

The 2023 National Fall Conference in Birmingham, Alabama, was a huge success. FCCLA’s commitment to creating the next generation of leaders and giving them the tools and motivation they need to make a difference in their homes, careers, and communities was highlighted during the event. Attendees departed Birmingham with not only new skills and knowledge but also a renewed sense of purpose and a commitment to leadership everywhere.

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About the Contributors

Ady Klosterman, Photo Assistant

Ady Klosterman is a freshman at Highlands High School. This is her first year of high school journalism, but her fourth year overall. She participated in journalism for two years at Johnson Elementary and again in her 8th grade year at the middle school. Ady used to write a lot of stories when she was younger. She would type them on a computer and print them. Even though they were just around 10 pages long, they were packed with details (and run-on sentences). While she enjoys writing, Ady's true interest is sports photography. She grew up in a household that loves sports, and you can guarantee the TV was turned on on game day. She spends a lot of her spare time at sporting events, most often on the sidelines taking pictures or yelling from the student section, and when she isn't at an event, she's usually catching up on something from the previous one or getting ready for the next one.

Mia Shrout, Staff

Mia Shrout is a sophomore at Highlands High School taking publications this year. This is her second year taking Journalism at HHS and she is super excited to see what is to come. Her favorite thing to do in school is to write about things she has an opinion on. Mia dances at Rapture Dance Company. She works hard in the classroom and outside of it. Although she has a busy schedule, her determination allows her to manage her time wisely and still be able to do everything she wants to. Mia is excited to see where her time in publications takes her.