When you think of things like home design, child care, and managing fundraisers, most wouldn’t think of them as competitive. But for students involved in FCCLA, the competition is on. Family, Career and Community Leaders of America, or FCCLA for short, is an organization that helps and encourages students to develop practical life skills. And, like many things, FCCLA has a competitive side. This year, the students for St. Charles High brought their best.
Sophomore Kenneth Minion placed third in his category, earning a bronze for his project in Early Childhood. Minion presented two pre-school level lesson plans, one for art and one for math. “I had to like, plan it, see if it would go well, I tested it out too on my little two sisters,” Minion said. His presentation describes how the activities can be adapted for children of different ages and abilities.
Sophomores Lana Lohaus and Gyzell Whitehurst brought home a silver metal in a different category, Interior Design. For their project, the pair designed a whimsical Disney themed AirBnB, keeping in mind the budget needed and calculating a fair price for a night’s stay. The presentation included illustrations, paint and flooring samples, and the predicted cost of decorating the space. “We had a baseline price of like $50 an hour for the student designer, and give them the baseline prices of the furniture plus everything else, like taxes and shipping,” Lohaus said.
Another award-winning presentation was given by sophomores Shavon Kyem and AuBrianna Strong. With their presentation on St. Charles High’s Turkey Drive Fundraiser, the duo earned second place in the Chapter Service Project category. Their presentation described FCCLA’s efforts to promote the fundraiser, the organization they worked with, and the success of this year’s fundraiser as opposed to those in years past. “I had pictures, I had articles, I had newsletters, all on the poster board,” Strong said.
Kierra Skillington also received a silver medal for her project in the Sports Nutrition category.
