Callaway High School boasts an active and growing FCCLA chapter, and at this year’s state conference, seven students competing in four events finished in the top two to earn a trip to the national convention. Brayden Keeney qualified in his event prior to the state convention. (Photo courtesy CHS)

On Monday, March 16, members of the Callaway High School FCCLA Chapter presented their STAR projects to a full house of family, friends, and community members in the school auditorium. The presentation was in preparation for the contest, with a trip to the National Convention on the line.

Family, Career and Community Leaders of America (FCCLA) has a very active chapter at Callaway High School. The CHS chapter has also developed a reputation for being very competitive and qualifying members for nationals each year.

The National Leadership Conference brings together thousands of student leaders from across the country to compete in Students Taking Action with Recognition (STAR) Events, attend leadership workshops, and network with other FCCLA members. It is the goal of every FCCLA member to be able to attend the conference at least once during their high school career. So far, at least five CHS events and seven students have achieved that goal.

The hours of practice and effort the students put into their projects paid off, as the chapter had an outstanding showing at the state convention in Lincoln held March 30 and 31. Callaway FCCLA Advisor Charmayne Popp explained that the top two finishers in each event at state automatically qualify for the national convention. If for some reason one of those qualifiers is unable to attend, the third-place finisher has the option to take their place.

“We were just truly blessed at how fantastic our state convention ended up being,” said Popp.

She said the kids competed all day on Monday, March 30, in a wide variety of events. One of those events, Baking and Pastry, is unique from the others in that it requires an entry test rather than a district qualification to compete at the state level. The top eight then competed in Lincoln.

Finishing in the top two and earning national qualification for CHS are: *Ashly Denney in Baking and Pastry Level 3, State Runner-Up, Silver Medal *Tiersa Johnson in Fashion Construction Level 3, State Champion, Gold Medal *Kennedy Eggleston in Focus on Children Level 1, State Runner-Up, Gold Medal *Amelia Pandorf, Gracie Brennan, and Lauren Reiff in Hospitality, Tourism, and Recreation Level 2, State Runner-Up, Gold Medal Other results for the Callaway chapter members at state are as follows: *Emma Stallbaumer in Fashion Construction Level 2, Third Place, Silver Medal *Olivia Doggett in Hospitality, Tourism and Recreation Level 1, Third Place, Silver Medal *Tyra Brestel in Nutrition and Wellness Level 3, Third Place, Gold Medal *Brianna Quitmeyer and Ellie Phelps in Repurpose and Redesign Level 1, Sixth Place, Gold Medal *Angel Johnson, Chenney Dishman, and Kaygan Witthuhn in Repurpose and Redesign Level 3, Third Place, Gold Medal Prior to the state competition, one Callaway FCCLA member had already submitted a project and was selected to go on to the national level. Senior Brayden Keeney competed in the Online STAR event Instructional Video Design Level 3, in which entries were due prior to the state convention, where his teammates competed. Keeney made a tutorial video on how to design a t-shirt using a Cricut.

Making t-shirts is a side business that Keeney started about a year ago. So creating a video explaining his business seemed like a natural fit for him.

“So I made the video and just as I was getting ready to submit it I reread the rules and saw that I have to be wearing FCCLA attire in the video, so I had to remake it,” said Keeney. “So I thought that was a chance to make it even better, so I did - and that’s the video I submitted.”

In the national competition, Keeney will have to give an oral presentation not only on the making of his video but also on the business that is the subject of his project. He will also share how FCCLA has contributed to the success of his business.

A senior, Keeney has been a member of FCCLA all four years of high school. His video is the only one from Nebraska selected for nationals in that category. He will be accompanying his six teammates who earned a trip to nationals during the state convention.

The students will head to Washington, D.C. July 6-10 for the national convention. At this time there are seven Callaway national qualifiers, but that could potentially increase.

This is Popp’s fourth year as FCCLA advisor at Callaway. Her highest place finisher at state her first year was third place; however, due to others not being able to attend she ended up taking four kids to nationals. Year two there was one team with two qualifiers.

“Then last year was a Cinderella story and we qualified 10. As a chapter we have increased our enrollment; the first year we had nine affiliated members and this year we have 31 affiliated members,” said Popp. “And out of those 31, 15 did STAR projects, so it’s really cool to see half the chapter engaged that way.”

“I kind of feel like I have created little monsters,” she laughed. “The kids’ expectations are so high, and they just have their eyes set on nationals. Just to see the kids’ motivation to do well is so encouraging. We all like to win and do well. One of our goals is to create kids that once they leave high school they will continue to want to give back to their community in some way, shape or form.”