Four Luverne High Schools students and their advisor traveled to Washington, D.C., July 6-9 to attend the Family, Career and Community Leaders of America (FCCLA) national leadership conference.
Students Zoe Brown, Jenna Schelhaas, Mira Uithoven and Katerina Siebert, along with advisor Amy Cook, were among more than 8,000 members who attended the event.
While at the conference, the students competed in parliamentary procedure contest, earning a silver award.
“It is a huge accomplishment for these four girls to earn a silver at nationals,” Cook said.
“It really shows the hard work and dedication they are willing to put in to represent the Luverne FCCLA and the Minnesota FCCLA at the national level.”
This is the second year the team has represented the state.
Last year, the four students traveled to San Antonio, Texas, and also earned a silver medal in parliamentary procedure.
Besides more than 30 competition-related events, the conference’s theme, “Together We Are Healthy,” was carried throughout the various speakers’ messages and leadership skills sessions.
Attendees were challenged to explore the fitness of body, mind and spirit that is a product of healthy attitudes and habits; and pursue whole health focus in their lives and communities.
“I feel very inspired,” said Schelhaas. “It gave me an idea for a chapter service project to help out children affected by homelessness … I am hoping to partner with an organization that helps homeless children get an education.”
The conference also recognized the organization’s 70th anniversary and advocated for strong Family and Consumer Sciences (FACS) education in schools with a rally on the Capitol grounds.