If you ever find yourself thinking that teenagers can be unproductive, lazy, and selfish, turn to an FCCLA member to have your mind changed instantly. Family, Career, and Community Leaders of America (FCCLA) is an organization encouraging members to exemplify leadership and create opportunities all across the nation. FCCLA members serve their communities, organize events, and plan for their careers. Members attend conferences and compete on a district and state level with a project in a category of their choosing, and have the possibility of attending Nationals.
This week, we turn the spotlight to our home chapter, which recently sent thirty members including twenty-eight competitors to the annual Colorado State Leadership Conference, which was held in Downtown Denver from April 16th to April 19th. During the conference, members competed in their events, participated in seminars, attended conferences, and made lots of memories.
The twenty-eight competitors from Palisade competed in STAR Events, which allows members to complete a project and present to judges to be graded against other competitors. In order to qualify for Nationals, competitors must earn above a score of eighty points on their project and place first or second (with a few exceptions in events that are more popular).
Six competitors received a gold medal, which typically represents a score in the nineties. Those recipients include Kirra Trousdale in Nutrition and Wellness, Hailey Shackleford in Job Interview, Addison Fox in Sports Nutrition, Katarina Weber in Event Management, Lauren Spriggs in Event Management, and Katelyn Spalding in Job Interview. Eight projects qualified for the National Leadership Conference, including Makayla Trousdale in Sustainability Challenge, Kirra Trousdale, Marilee Beauregard in Public Policy Advocate, Hailey Shackleford, Addison Fox, Katarina Weber, Olivia Talley in Leadership, and Lynessa Asplund, Piper Wesolowski, Gabrielle Spriggs, Alayah Craig, Kennedy Stephen in Parliamentary Procedure. All Palisade competitors, not just the gold medal recipients or National Qualifiers, worked hard on these projects, showed up, and represented Palisade well.
Although adults don’t compete in events at FCCLA, Colorado shined a light and granted an award to our very own adviser and FCS teacher, Amanda Talley. At the State Leadership conference, Mrs. Talley was recognized as Colorado’s Adviser of the Year. Mrs. Talley organizes club events, books hotels, coordinates transportation for State and Nationals, and always showers her members and officers with love, support, and encouragement. If you see Mrs. Talley in the hallways, be sure to congratulate her on this outstanding award!
However, this isn’t where Palisade FCCLA concludes their achievements for this year. Our home chapter earned a Gold Chapter of Merit award. In order to qualify, you must create a completed list of your chapter’s accomplishments over the year, which is graded based on a rubric during State. Chapters can receive gold, silver, or bronze based on their grade. Palisade FCCLA’s continual effort in fundraisers, membership events, team bonding events, and conferences surely shows how they have earned this award.
State isn’t the end of the road for our FCCLA chapter. The 2025 National Leadership Conference, held in Orlando, Florida, from July 5th to July 9th, will give the twelve National Qualifiers a chance to showcase their projects, meet new members, and create many lasting memories. Congratulations to all of our members who competed, and if you are interested in joining FCCLA for the 2025-2026 school year, speak to an officer or Mrs Talley in 185D.
