FCCLA works toward four-star status
The Family Careers and Community Leaders of America, better known as FCCLA, is new to USU, said Troy Chilcott, president of USU’s FCCLA club and senior graduating in family consumer science education this semester.
FCCLA was started by Dr. Lindsey Shirley, assistant professor in Family Consumer Science, at the very beginning of the school year. There used to be a club at USU called Aggie Family and Consumer Sciences, Chilcott said, but Shirley wanted something more structured.
Mary Lynn, Shirley’s intern, said Aggie FACS wasn’t an accurate name for the organization.
“Dr. Shirley wanted it to be more accurate and known as Family Consumer Science,” Lynn said.
Family Consumer Science Education is the more accurate name, Lynn said. However, that club is more or less dissolved and is now FCCLA.
FCCLA is working on becoming a four-star chapter. This means the club will be recognized by the state and nation, Lynn said.
The club will participate in several service projects and then turn in an application to be a four-star chapter in March, Chilcott said.
FCCLA includes national programs and community service. Earlier this semester, the club helped put on the fashion recycling show. The food collected at admission into that show went to the SNAC program, Chilcott said.
FCCLA also competes in many different competitions. The first competition is an area competition in February, followed by a state competition in Layton in March. If the club does well in the state competition, it will move on to nationals in July in San Antonio.
“There are five different areas that a person can compete in at these competitions,” Chilcott said. “Fashion strategies, focus on children, teaching and training, culinary arts and advocacy. The person competing chooses one of the areas to compete in. Sometimes these competitions involve making a portfolio or talking.”
As for who can compete, Chilcott said anyone is eligible.
Katelyn Scott, a junior majoring in family and consumer sciences for secondary education, said she is planning on competing but isn’t sure in what area she wants to compete in.
“It is an experience I am looking forward to,” Scott said. “Another thing I am looking forward to is judging for FCCLA.”
There are 40 members of the USU FCCLA club. Anyone can join, including non-majors. They meet in Family Life 118 at 11:30 a.m. every other Wednesday. There will be mid-semester elections for next semester officer positions coming up for those who are interested, said Chilcott.
“There is a focus in family and community in our lives,” said Lynn. “There is a big push to strengthen family and community, not just in college but throughout our lives and to help people see the importance of it.”
Scott said she wasn’t very involved with FCCLA in high school.
“I have enjoyed being involved and learning more about running a club through my experience with FCCLA,” Scott said. “I have enjoyed learning more about the club and what opportunities are offered through it. I hope to use what I have learned as an officer next year and in my classroom as a teacher.”
Scott recommends people join FCCLA – especially those in family, consumer and human development and family and consumer sciences education majors.
“There are many opportunities offered through the club: leadership, competition, service, friendship, involvement and many others,” Scott said.