FCCLA - Not Your Average Home Economics Class
 | Author:
Tia Tallwhiteman, BHS Reporter
Tia Tallwhiteman, Student Contributor |
Tia Tallwhiteman
BHS Reporter
Family Career and Community Leaders of America (FCCLA) club membership teaches students leadership skills. The Chapter Advisor is Ms. Shae Bruusema, who teaches many Family Consumer classes at Broadwater High School. She says, “It’s fun to see students step out of their comfort zone and gain leadership and practical skills that are for life.”
FCCLA was founded in 1955 in Chicago, Illinois. It was initially called Future Home Makers of America. Its name was changed in 1999 to better reflect the activities that include a variety of skills to build a successful family career.
The FCCLA Club members do various community works. This includes volunteering at Helping Hands and at Broadwater Food Pantry. At school, they run the Sweet Treat stand, which operates as a fundraiser for the club. Members sell sweet treats for the students in high school, usually brownies or cookies. Members man the stand to pay for supplies for their projects. They also serve the high school community through the Care Closet. They wash coats, organize clothes, and make fleece tie blankets to hand out to students for warmth and comfort. Middle School and Elementary School Counselor Holly Smedley started the Care Project to have clothing and personal care items on hand so students can grab them. “We are always looking for ways that we can help serve our community,” said advisor Ms. Bruusema.
Members of FCCLA help serve the local businesses. They fundraise to help them compete against other schools’ clubs. They do numerous activities that deal with leadership. They learn skills that help the students prepare for their futures. The competitions further develop their skills in practical knowledge and leadership skills.
The club’s competitions against other schools involve picking a project that members present to two judges. The judges award either gold, silver or bronze medals. The top three contenders then go to the National Leadership Conference in Washington, D.C. They have 43 categories from which to choose a project, including baking and pastry, cupcake decoration or teacher preparation, digital stores for change, relevant change or repurpose and redesign.
FCCLA is most definitely not the average Home Economics class. It is full of vibrant members, fun categories, and an awesome chapter advisor. FCCLA really does help students learn different ways to become successful leaders and to learn a lot of different practical skills.
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Image 1 Caption: FCCLA Club members include, back row left: Jacey Brunette, Molly Hall, Logan Barkhurst and Ayden Thompson. Front row left: Advisor Ms. Bruusema, Destiny Grandy, Tessie Hughes and Harley Cox. Members not pictured: Kylee Warburton, Kaitlyn Noyes and Harper Wolfgram.
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