Members of the local chapter of the Family, Career and Community Leaders of America (FCCLA) are heading to the state competition on April 11 in Dallas.
Seniors Judary Ledezma, Kynzee Payne, Claire Guillotte, Addison Bailes, and Jasmin Mandujano will compete in Creed Testing. Addison Bailes & Jasmin Madujano achieved perfect scores in Mission and Purpose and will compete. Rey Ramirez, Paisley Robinson, Jenae Weathered, and Ayden Canizales will compete in Etiquette.
“Going on the trip with Mrs.Holland and everyone else in FCCLA is always fun,” senior Addison Bailes said. “We normally go to the mall or to eat somewhere when we’re all done with our events, like last year we went to the Cheesecake Factory and I really enjoyed that. Yes, I’m definitely sad about this being my last year. I’ve done FCCLA since I was a freshman, so I would say that it is a significant part of me and my high school experience. The party will be fun though and I hope that everyone in FCCLA can come.”
The state competition is an opportunity for FCCLA members to show their expertise in areas such as culinary arts, fashion design, interior design, public speaking, and leadership. Participants have been busy preparing their projects and presentations, to impress the judges and earn metals that could lead them to the nationals.
“As an FCCLA advisor, I have witnessed firsthand the extensive preparation that our members undergo for the state competition.” FCCLA adviser Martha Holland said. “I strongly believe that participating in FCCLA STAR Events (and other career and technical student organizations) have a profound impact on students; it fosters not only technical skills but also confidence and resilience among our members.”
This year, members have spent several hours per week after school on enhancing their skills in leadership, project management, and teamwork. During this time, they have completely revamped their project, using judges’ comments and rubrics from regionals to guide their revisions to their portfolio, visuals, and speech.
“I have seen students grow tremendously as they navigate challenges, collaborate with peers, and present their work,” Holland said. The competition serves as a critical platform for personal and professional development, instilling essential skills such as public speaking, critical thinking, and networking that are invaluable for their future careers.”
My role includes guiding students through the project guidelines, judges’ comments, and rubrics to ensure all aspects of the project are included and detailed, as well as providing feedback on their projects and helping them develop their presentations.
“In the past, I have served as a Lead Consultant in several different events at the regional and state levels,” Holland said. “These experiences have helped me see firsthand different aspects of the competitions and what the judges are looking for.
For many, the opportunity to compete at the state level is a conclusion of months of hard work and preparation. Sophomores, Sienna Miller and Ayden Canizales have been preparing their project on “Entrepreneurship” for Months.
“The project is going really well and I think we are ready for state,” sophomore Ayden said.
As the April event approaches, local students and their families are eagerly awaiting the chance to celebrate their achievements, connect with other FCCLA leaders, and take the next step in their leadership journey. Whether they walk away with trophies or not, the experience promises to be one of the most memorable of their high school career.
“We are excited about the competition” sophomore Sienna said, “After getting ready for state I’m nervous to see the results of their project.”
