Students medal in national FFCLA competition

One Siloam Springs High School student and four Middle School students won medals in the national Family Career and Community Leaders of America competition, held last month in Nashville, Tenn.

High school student Karla Pena and middle school students Jazmin Fischer, Nicole Phan, Wyllow Roberts and Eve Slater attended the FCCLA National Leadership Conference on July 2-6, and took part in the STAR (Students Taking Action with Recognition) Event competitions at the conference. They were recognized for their achievements at the Aug. 10 school board meeting.

FCCLA offers more than 30 STAR Events that represent college and career readiness taught in family and consumer sciences classrooms, including topics such as early childhood education, job interview, and food and nutrition, according to a press release from the national organization. Members must first qualify at the district and state level to participate in the national competition. This year more than 4,200 students participated in the national competition.

Siloam Springs students won the following awards:

• Pena, who was a junior when she competed but is now a senior at Siloam Springs High School, won a silver medal in the entrepreneurship event for her project, which focuses on owning a daycare. She investigated all of the regulations and requirements for opening a daycare, and created a business plan for a daycare. She was advised by family and consumer science teachers Carol Becan, Kendra Meredith and Tammie Murray.

• Phan, who was in eighth grade but is now a high school freshman, won a gold medal in the food innovations event. Her project focused on incorporating a half-cup of raw vegetables into a breakfast item that appealed to children age 2 through 15.

• Slater, now a freshman, won a silver medal in the advocacy event with a project that focused on distracted driving, with emphasis on the danger of texting and driving.

• Fischer and Roberts, now freshmen, won a bronze medal in the environmental ambassador event with a project focused on the importance of paper recycling in public schools, including the implementation of a recycling plan in Siloam Springs.

All of the middle school projects were advised by family and consumer science teacher Bee Fink.

FCCLA's STAR Events are based on the belief that every student is a winner, according to a press release from the organization. Competition, evaluation and recognition all stress cooperation as the basis of success. Both youth and adults work together to manage the events and serve as evaluators of the participants. Throughout the year, FCCLA members tackle issues such as teen violence prevention, traffic safety, family issues, career exploration and more. FCCLA programs and competitions enrich student learning, improve self-esteem and serve students with a range of ability levels, economic situations and cultural influences.