Students from Ste. Genevieve High School recently attended the 2022 Missouri Family, Career and Community Leaders of America State Leadership Conference from March 20-22 at Tan-Tar-A Conference Center in Osage Beach. More than 1,200 delegates from across the state represented 7,340 members of Missouri FCCLA!
High school students Jayci Beckermann, Elaina Schemel, Sophie DeRousse, Trey Bloom, Emma K., Lana Kemper and Drew Newman attended the conference, along with Mrs. Carrie Staffen and Dr. Tracey Eatherton, local chapter adviser/advisers.
The conference centered on the student-developed theme “Let Leadership Shine: Missouri FCCLA’s Diamond Year” in celebration of Missouri FCCLA’s 75th Anniversary. The conference kicked off with the Opening General Session on Sunday evening, where the 2021-2022 Missouri FCCLA State Executive Council presided. The keynote speaker was Kyle Scheele.
On Monday, more than 400 students participated in 31 competitive STAR Events – Students Taking Action with Recognition. Events included entrepreneurship, culinary arts, job interviews, chapter service projects, event management, and many others. All students from the Ste. Genevieve chapter earned a gold rating in their events. Lana Kemper and Trey Bloom both competed in the National Programs in Action event, Jayci Beckermann in the Career Investigation event, Emma K. in Leadership, and Elaina Schemel and Sophie DeRousse in Chapter Service Project Portfolio. Emma, Elaina, Sophie, Trey and Jayci all qualified for national competition this July in San Diego. Trey and Jayci were each named as the state winner in their events. Drew Newman and Maria Kemper will also compete at the national competition with their Digital Stories for Change entry. Students also were able to attend workshops on leadership development, college prep, finance, and health. Exhibits from Missouri colleges and universities were also present at the conference.
Student voting delegates elected the 2022-2023 Missouri FCCLA State Executive Council. Conference attendees raised more than $2,000 for our state outreach project benefitting the Salvation Army.
FCCLA is unique among student organizations because projects and events — such as the State Leadership Conference — are planned and run by its student members. This prime focus of Missouri FCCLA, youth-centered leadership, helps members develop those "skills for life" — planning, goal setting, problem solving, decision-making, and interpersonal communication — necessary in the workplace and in the home.
Photo: Drew Newman, Jayci Beckermann, Trey Bloom, Emma K., Elaina Schemel, Sophie DeRousse, Lana Kemper