BCTC STUDENTS ACCEPT THE CHALLENGE OF FCCLA

April 1, 2004

Students from the Berks Career and Technology Center (BCTC) earned twenty-five medals at the 58 th Annual State Leadership Conference for Family, Career, and Community Leaders of America (FCCLA). The conference was held on March 24-26, 2004 at the Pittsburgh Hilton and Towers in Pittsburgh , Pa. The theme of the conference was "Accept the Challenge of FCCLA." The conference provided BCTC students along with students from around the state a chance to participate in a variety of activities including workshops about career preparation and topics on the family. Students also had the opportunity to participate in competitions and proficiency STAR (Students Taking Action for Recognition) events. In these events, students must identify their concerns, set goals, form a plan, act on their plan, and follow up on their project.

Students from BCTC’s Culinary Arts and Occupational Child Development programs competed in numerous leadership and skills events during the two-day period. In the area of culinary arts, 14 medals were achieved. Jessica Wentzel, a Culinary Arts student at BCTC’s West Campus and a senior at Conrad Weiser Area School District, earned a silver medal and the opportunity to compete at the national FCCLA conference in Chicago, Illinois, on July 11-16, 2004. Qualifiers for the national conference are determined by the highest point total for that specific category. Only the top three scores are accepted to represent Pennsylvania at nationals. Additionally, Jessica received a total of $7,250 in scholarships from the Culinary Institute of America, Johnson and Wales Institute, French Culinary, and the Art Institute of Pittsburgh.

Students in BCTC’s Occupational Child Development program collected a total of 11 medals in the STAR events with one team qualifying to move onto nationals. A gold medal was awarded to the team from BCTC’s West Campus Occupational Child Development program in the category of Chapter Service Project Display. The team of Ashley Ellingsworth, a senior at Conrad Weiser Area School District; Amanda Spatz, a senior at Schuylkill Valley Area School District; and Jaclyn DiCicco, a home-schooled junior in the Governor Mifflin School District, focused their project on children with cancer. The students were aware of four children within their communities who have cancer and raised money through various projects for the children and their families.

Overall, the Berks Career and Technology Center brought home eight gold medals, 14 silver, and three bronze medals.