BCTC STUDENTS PLACE FIRST IN THE NATION AT LEADERSHIP CONFERENCE

Lee Styer, Culinary Arts graduate, and Kristy Godoy, Occupational Child Development graduate from the Berks Career and Technology Center, were awarded national rankings in their respective competitive events at the national FCCLA (Family, Career, and Community Leaders of America) Leadership Conference held in Philadelphia. Approximately 5,000 people attended the annual conference held in July. More than 2,200 students from throughout the United States participated in FCCLA’s STAR (Students Taking Action with Recognition) Events competition.

Styer, a recent graduate of Governor Mifflin High School, competed in the Culinary Arts section of the STAR Events. The events are competitive, and members are recognized for proficiency and achievement in chapter and individual projects, leadership skills, and occupational preparation. STAR Events promote FCCLA’s mission to focus on the multiple roles of family member, wage earner, and community leader. Each event is designed to help members develop specific lifetime skills in character development, creative and critical thinking, interpersonal communication, practical knowledge, and vocational preparation.

Styer received a unanimous 100% score on his event and was awarded a gold medal and national ranking in his event. He was presented with a full scholarship to the Culinary Institute of America in Hyde Park, New York. At the state leadership conference held in the spring, Styer achieved a gold medal for the same competition.

Daniel Boone graduate Kristy Godoy competed in FCCLA’s STAR Event - Focus on Children. As a volunteer firefighter, Godoy’s topic was fire prevention. She planned and conducted a fire safety unit for local Head Start children. She earned a gold medal with a score of 98.5% and national ranking this event. Godoy took gold in the same event at the state leadership conference in the spring. This is the second year that Godoy qualified and competed in the national competitions.

Four additional students from BCTC also excelled at nationals. Scott Gery, a Culinary Arts student and Antietam senior, took a gold medal in culinary arts. A silver medal was awarded to Sarah Stufflet, an Occupational Child Development and Governor Mifflin graduate, for her Chapter Service Project Manual. Her focus was on the Salvation Army. A bronze medal was awarded to the Occupational Child Development team of Ashley Ellingsworth, Conrad Weiser senior, and Lyndsey Mazaika, Hamburg Area senior, for their accomplishments on the Chapter Showcase Project Manual.

The theme for the conference was "FCCLA Wants You: Accept the Challenge." The theme encourages members to "accept the challenge" of building a successful future by exploring career options, addressing community needs, and focusing on family relations. During the five-day meeting, participants examined many of the issues and challenges facing youth and worked toward gaining the life skills they need to meet those challenges.

Family, Career and Community Leaders of America 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. The
organization has more than 225,000 members and 7,500 advisors from all 50 states plus the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands. Since its founding, FCCLA has involved more than ten million youth.

FCCLA is unique among student organizations because it is the only national in-school organization whose programs are planned and run by members. It is the only national in-school organization with the family as its central focus. Participation in national programs and chapter activities helps members become strong leaders in their families, careers, and communities.