Family, Career and Community Leaders of America (FCCLA) is a national nonprofit student organization that helps youth develop leadership and workplace skills to prepare for both college and careers through peer-to-peer education, community engagement, and the application of skills learned in the Family and Consumer Sciences (FCS) classroom. In Callaway, all 7th and 8th grade students take an exploratory FCS course, so they are eligible to be FCCLA members throughout their junior high and high school years.

Many team members participate in STAR (Students Taking Action with Recognition) - competitive events in which members are recognized for proficiency and achievement in chapter and individual projects, leadership skills, and career preparation. This year four of Callaway's STAR teams performed well enough at the state level to earn a trip to Nationals in San Diego, California June 28 - July 4. Those qualifiers are Sophia Doyle, Jocelyn Bailey, Emalee Glendy, Jazlynn Bechtold and Giavanna Doyle.

Sophia Doyle explained the planning process behind the STAR project: 1. Identify concerns; 2. Set a goal; 3. Act; and 4. Follow up. She explained that she competes in Food Innovations, Level 3, and for her project she took an existing recipe and modified it two different times.

“I made an original recipe and surveyed it to people, and then took their surveys to change my recipe, and then surveyed it again,” Sophia explained. “Then I changed it again.”

Through this project she created a meal kit that included an entree and two sides using flavors and skills for a couple with advanced culinary skills and an adventurous palate. The meal kit also had to have fewer than 750mg of sodium.

The teams compete at districts in January, then to state in April. A senior, Sophia has qualified for nationals twice before, and she is not the only Callaway student making a return trip.

“Nationals is a lot of fun. I have gone to Nashville and to Anaheim,” she said. “It’s very busy for the five days you’re there. We usually get to sightsee some while we’re there too.”

Emalee and Jocelyn worked together in their event, Sports Nutrition, Level 3. This project focuses on learning how to balance a nutrition and hydration plan based on your goals and activity level.

Jazlynn and Giavanna worked as a team to plan an event in the Event Management, Level 2 category. This project challenges students to plan an event for 50 people and consider all aspects including a budget, social media marketing, venue, supplies, vendors and volunteers. This is Jazlynn's second time qualifying for nationals and Giavanna's first.

The groups will present their projects once to the panel of judges at the national competition, and will also attend various state and business meetings.

Callaway FCCLA Advisor Kelli Walz said there are 11 students in the chapter this year, which usually averages around 18 members. The projects can be done individually or in groups of up to three people. Sophia’s is an individual project, while the other Callaway qualifiers are pairs.

“I enjoy the traveling and meeting people,” said Sophia. “With my project I had to learn how to manage my time, and with me being a senior that is a skill I will use.”

"I am so excited to travel because I have qualified for the past two years and I have not gotten to leave Nebraska," said Jocelyn, a junior. Due to COVID, the events were held virtually in 2020 and 2021. This is Jocelyn's third time qualifying for Nationals.

"I am most excited about getting to have one last adventure as an FCCLA member as well as getting to be in person again,” senior Emalee explained. “I am also looking forward to making more friends." This will be Emalee's fifth appearance.

The girls will be facing competitors from 47 states and Puerto Rico at the national competition where they compete against other students of their grade level. School size does not matter.

The school provides what funding they can for the trip, while various fundraisers such as the luncheon for the Vintage Motor Car Club of America on May 3 helps raise additional funds.