Burnet students make state in family and consumer sciences
Burnet High School students Abigail Gatlin, Elaina Alexander-Mabrey, and Nadahlia Bennett earned top placements at the Region V Leadership Conference in Corpus Christi. The students will compete at the state Family Career and Community Leaders of America competition in April. Photo courtesy of Cora Warwick
Three Burnet High School students advanced to the state Family, Career and Community Leaders of America competition after excelling in their categories at the Region V Leadership Conference, which was Jan. 30-Feb. 1 in Corpus Christi.
The student-led FCCLA equips members with real-world skills through family and consumer sciences education. The program teaches youth how to balance personal and work lives and leads them on career paths to several industries, including human services, hospitality and tourism, education and training, and visual arts and design.
Burnet High School’s Abigail Gatlin, Nadahlia Bennett, and Elaina Alexander-Mabrey now move on to the State Leadership Conference, which is April 11-13 at Hilton Anatole in Dallas.
At the regional contest:
- Gatlin placed first in Chapter in Review Display;
- Bennett was first in Teaching Strategies;
- and Alexander-Mabrey finished second in Early Childhood Education.
Burnet’s FCCLA members prepare throughout the year for specially selected competitions that align with their interests and future goals.
“Students work during school and after school to complete their projects, which can include practicing cooking skills, finalizing portfolios, and putting together a trifold display,” program sponsor Cora Warwick told DailyTrib.com. “At region, students have allotted time to set up, present, and answer questions about their project.”
Gatlin’s winning project for Chapter in Review Display highlighted the chapter’s membership campaigns, meetings, community service, leadership, and budget management. She also incorporated all eight FCCLA national programs and public relations strategies.
“I joined FCCLA to push myself out of my comfort zone,” Gatlin said. “At state, I’m excited to compete, grow closer in the FCCLA community, and hang out with fellow officers and members.”
Bennett’s first-place project in Teaching Strategies, a new event for the Texas competition, focused on research-based lesson planning. She designed a portfolio and resource container then presented a role-play lesson to evaluators.
“FCCLA allowed me to test my knowledge in my family-consumer career path and meet new people with the same interest,” Bennett said. “At state, I’m excited to participate in leadership, hang out with friends, and compete.”
Alexander-Mabrey’s second-place Early Childhood Education project involved planning and presenting an activity based on a case study as well as an oral presentation.
“I never fully understood what it was like to be a teacher. I just knew I wanted to work with kids,” she said. “Advancing to state for two years now has helped my confidence in my skills, and I’m excited to start my career as soon as possible.”