By: Kiana Madrigal
Recently, twenty-four students from the Wallenpaupack Area High School attended the FCCLA (Family Community Career Leaders of America) State Leadership Conference held at Kalahari Resorts & Convention Center. The conference, which lasted three days, gave students the opportunity to compete in their STAR (Students Taking Action with Recognition) events. Competitions officially began on Monday, the first day of the trip, and continued through Tuesday. During this time, students displayed their projects and skills in various categories like Repurpose and Redesign, Chapter Project Service Display, and Culinary just to name a few.
When the students weren’t competing, they had a chance to attend interactive workshops in which guest speakers talked about building leadership skills. Throughout the sessions, students engaged in fun activities such as charades, cup stacking challenges, and Kahoot games. After finishing competitions on Tuesday, the students were able to unwind and enjoy the water park. The conference also included an activity period from 7:00 to 10:30 pm, allowing students and advisors to socialize and play games with others from across the state.
The trip concluded on Wednesday with the closing ceremony. Students learned how they placed in their events and were given certificates and medals. Awards included bronze, silver, and gold rankings, as well as silver and gold distinctions that qualify students for Nationals. Many Wallenpaupack students qualified for the national competition, which will be held in Washington, D.C. Additionally, Wallenpaupack’s Maya Walek was elected to be a State Officer to represent the Northeastern region of Pennsylvania. Wallenpaupack was also recognized as an Outstanding Chapter! Overall, the conference was a rewarding and fun experience, giving students the chance to network, compete, and grow as leaders.
