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Dutchess Students Earn Gold At Fccla Leadership Conference

DUTCHESS COUNTY, N.Y. -- Family, Career and Community Leaders of America (FCCLA) members, advisers, alumni, and guests from across the state assembled in Owego from March 22 - 24 for the 2017 New York State FCCLA Leadership Conference.

The Millbrook Central School District FCCLA delegation with advisers.

The Millbrook Central School District FCCLA delegation with advisers.

Photo Credit: Contributed

The meeting provided students with the opportunity to attend leadership training, hear keynote speakers, explore colleges and careers, and participate in STAR Event competitions, according to a release from FCCLA.  Students from the Millbrook, Arlington, Marlboro, and Tri-Valley school districts were in attendance, and many qualified to represent the State of New York this July in Nashville, Tenn., at the National FCCLA Leadership Conference.

FCCLA offers more than 30 STAR [Students Taking Action with Recognition] events. These events represent college and career readiness skills taught in a Family and Consumer Sciences classroom, the release said.

FCCLA members compete at the district, state and national level in these events. The following students participated in STAR Events at the state level, and each individual event with the student’s achievement is noted below:

From Millbrook High School:

  • Abigail DeMan - Life Event Planning - Gold - National Qualifier
  • Jessica Rugar - Culinary Arts Occupational - Silver - National Qualifier
  • Victoria Bonadonna - Culinary Arts Occupational - Silver - National Qualifier
  • Steven Bryant - Culinary Arts Occupational - Bronze - National Qualifier

From Millbrook Middle School:

  • Alice Pandaleon - Entrepreneurship - Gold - National Qualifier
  • Isaiah Edmonds - Culinary Arts Comprehensive - Silver
  • James Moore - Culinary Arts Comprehensive - Silver
  • Eliakim Stowe - Career Investigation - Silver - National Qualifier

From Arlington High School:

Hannah Campbell – Advocacy – Gold – National Qualifier

From Marlboro High School:

Grace McKay- Illustrated Talk Sr- Bronze

From Marlboro Middle School:

  • Emma Greiner  and Emma Repke - Environmental Ambassador - Gold - National Qualifier
  • Sophia Benanti and Isabella Vicari - Focus on Children - Gold - National Qualifier
  • Jessica Singh and Cole DeSantis - Focus on Children - Silver - National Qualifier
  • Margaux Snow and Emily Rifkin - Focus on Children - Silver
  • Zaquan Jackson - Recycle and Redesign -Silver- National Qualifier
  • Zyquan Jackson - Recycle and Redesign -Silver- National Qualifier
  • Jimin Beare - Recycle and Redesign -Silver
  • Sarah Mackey and Elizabeth Lofaro Entrepreneurship -Silver
  • Naseem Haidaoiuand Austin Palmer- Illustrated Talk - Bronze
  • Leilanis Sanchez, Ava Del Salto- Food Innovations – Bronze

Emily Esack, an Arlington High School sophomore, served in the role of 1st  Vice President and Voting Delegate, which is a 2016-2017 New York State FCCLA office that oversees the state organization and planned this year’s state conference.

“I can tell you that I have grown because of FCCLA this year,” said Esack. “I grew on my public speaking skills while speaking to my delegation and giving speeches. I had learned more practical knowledge about FCCLA that I had never known before and have been taught about many career opportunities.”

Whitney Ewing, a Marlboro High School senior, served as the NYS Vice President of Finance for the 2016-2017 delegation. At the end this conference, both Esack and Ewing's terms ended and officially turned over their offices to a newly elected students, according to the release.

One of those newly elected students is Marlboro High School sophomore, Emma Feeney.

“Being an FCCLA Advisor is the best and most rewarding part of my job as a Family and Consumer Sciences Teacher,” said Ryan Judge, Millbrook’s FCCLA Advisor. “FCCLA provides the opportunity for students to use academic knowledge in real-world preparation situations where they can build their leadership and career readiness skills with an opportunity to earn college scholarships."

"Students from Millbrook High School collectively earned $19,000 in college scholarships from their achievement at this year’s competition in the area of culinary arts. FCCLA uses the tagline, “The Ultimate Leadership Experience,” and for these mid-hudson valley students, it certainly has been."

FCCLA is a dynamic and effective national student organization that helps young men and women become leaders and address important personal, family, work and societal issues through Family and Consumer Sciences Education as determined by the state department of education.

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