Montgomery County R-II

The conference centered on the student-developed theme, "Missouri FCCLA: Out of this World" representing how Missouri FCCLA members are launching their leadership to new levels.  The conference kicked off with the Opening General Session on Sunday evening where the 23-24 Missouri FCCLA State Executive Council presided.  The keynote speaker was Dr. Laymon Hicks.

On Monday, almost 800 students participated in 81 competitive STAR Events - Students Taking Action with Recognition.  Events include Entrepreneurship, Culinary Arts, Job Interviews, Chapter Service Projects, Event Management, Early Childhood Education, Sports Nutrition and so many others.  More than 180 students and teams advanced to national competition, which will take place in Seattle, Washington this summer. 

Student were able to attend workshops on leadership development, community service, career preparation and healthy living.  Exhibits from Missouri colleges, universities and vendors were also present at the conference.  Student voting delegates elected the 24-25 Missouri FCCLA State Executive Council and raised money for our state outreach project benefiting LOVEtheLOU.

From Montgomery County High School, chapter officers Hannah Toenges, Beth Bextermiller, Aaliyah Onofre, and Danielle Thomas represented the organization.  Mariah Fish, Addison Brower, and Alexa Groeber competed against more than 25 of the best teams in the state battling for Top 5 in Missouri honors.  Mariah Fish and Addison Brower competed in a community service category with their project encouraging reading at both elementary schools. Their project hosted a reading challenge in January.  On average, JBE students read 9,720 minutes and MCE students read 19,680 minutes.  During the week of their FCCLA reading challenge, students read a combined 35,344 minutes, making an extra 5,944 minutes or almost 100 extra hours of reading among our county's elementary students!  Their project was supported by the Montgomery City Kiwanis chapter to help to provide books to each classroom's library for all classrooms at JBE and MCE that participated.  Mariah Fish and Addison Brower were awarded 2nd in the state of Missouri and Mariah will be taking the project on to national competition. 

Alexa Groeber competed in the professional Job Interview category, facing a large number of competitive schools.  She interviewed very well, and was awarded 5th in Missouri in her category.  All Top 5 competitors were recognized at the STAR Events Recognition Session on Tuesday and it is quite an honor to have ALL Montgomery County HS competitors recognized in the TOP 5 in Missouri.  

Olivia Spurgeon was elected as the Missouri Region 4 President in January.  In her new position, she hosted her first Region 4 meeting and presented Region 4 information in a Missouri general session on stage.  

Montgomery County High School's FCCLA Chapter received 6 awards in total at the state leadership conference.  

• Mrs. Linda Krattli was nominated by the HS FCCLA chapter for her time and efforts given to our chapter.  She received the Missouri Honorary Membership Award for her volunteering efforts. Her grandson, Grayson Dunlap, and chapter officers accepted the award on her behalf on stage.  

• The HS chapter's next award was a Star Chapter distinction award.  This award was given to chapters that recruited and affiliated 50-74 percent of their Family and Consumer Sciences program students.  

• Mrs. Beattie, MCHS FCCLA chapter advisors, received a certificate of recognition on stage for 20 years of FCCLA advising and her assistance to other chapters across the state in her career. 

• 3 of the 7 available category Missouri awards for the FCCLA National Programs,were awarded to MCHS FCCLA's chapter as a "Best in State" plaque for their chapter's projects.    First, the chapter received 1st place in the National Program - Student Body.  This award is given to the chapter that helps members learn to make informed, responsible choices for their physical and mental health while also providing opportunities to each others.  The project completed by the chapter came out of the FCCLA Entrepreneurship class.

• The second National Program award was a 3rd place in Missouri Award for the Families First program.  This is given to the chapter that gains a better understanding of how families work and learn skills to become strong family members.  The project the chapter completed was their Elf on the Shelf project which funds the Adopted Families for Christmas within our community.  

• The third National Program award was 1st place in Missouri Award for the Career Connections program.  This is given to the chapter that is learning more about themselves and the workplace, refining skills to become better potential employees, and preparing themselves for future careers by putting themselves on the pathway to success.  The project the chapter used to showcase these talents was their 100th Day of School t-shirts they designed, marketed, and produced for the elementary students at JBE and MCE in celebration of the 100th day of school in March.