HOISINGTON — AJ Schartz, Ryker Stout, Brayden Stevenson and Aspen Galido, members of the Family, Career and Community Leaders of America (FCCLA) chapter at Hoisington High School, attended the FCCLA National Leadership Conference held in Orlando, Fla., from July 5-9. The conference welcomed thousands of students from across the nation for a week of competition, leadership development, and career exploration.
The National Leadership Conference brought 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.
AJ Schartz represented Kansas in the Repurpose and Redesign STAR event and placed 12th in the nation with a gold.
“Presenting my project, which focused on using plastic spoons to make flowers and a flower pot, at the National Leadership Conference was an amazing opportunity. I’m proud of what I accomplished and inspired by the other students I met,” said Schartz.
The National Leadership Conference provided Ryker Stout with a dynamic experience that strengthened leadership skills, built career readiness, and encouraged meaningful connections with peers nationwide. Through competitive events, workshops, and networking opportunities, he gained valuable insight into future career paths and the power of youth-led impact. Ryker looks forward to applying these experiences to future leadership roles, continued involvement in FCCLA, and creating positive change in his school and community. Ryker is a member of the Kansas Peer Education team for the 2024-2026 school year. He will travel this fall throughout the state and present workshops with his Peer Ed team.
Brayden Stevenson, Aspen Galindo and advisor Karla Reisner help to meet the Kansas number of needed judges at the national level. They all judged STAR events
“We went from Level 1 to postsecondary,” Reisner said, “We started at 7:30 in the morning and then we judged until 4 in the afternoon. It was a very long day, but we saw some great projects. My students realize how important it is to look at the rubrics and to follow them thoroughly.”
About FCCLA
Family, Career and Community Leaders of America is a dynamic and effective student-led nation-based organization supporting youth on their journey to become the leaders of tomorrow and helping them address important personal, family, work, and societal issues through Family and Consumer Sciences education. FCCLA has over 240,000 members and more than 5,200 chapters across the nation.
FCCLA: The Ultimate Leadership Experience is unique among youth organizations because its programs are planned and run by members. It is the only career and technical intracurricular student organization with a central focus on careers that support families. Participation in national FCCLA programs and chapter activities aids members in becoming strong leaders in their families, careers, and communities.
