Mount Pulaski FCCLA Chapter performs well at state conference

[May 20, 2017]  MOUNT PULASKI - This April, ten students represented the Mount Pulaski FCCLA Chapter at the Illinois State Leadership Conference in Springfield. These students earned the right to attend the conference based on their performance at the Section 12 competition in February. All ten competed in events and two dealt with state officer responsibilities.

Olivia Letterle served this past year as an Illinois FCCLA State Officer. She was elected last April at the conference and helped to guide the direction of the organization and plan various meetings and conferences throughout the 2016-2017 school year. She served at the State First Vice-President and at State Conference she presided over the business session and helped to lead the other sessions. Over the course of her year of service she was able to participate in a variety of new experiences which gave her opportunities to increase her leadership, public speaking, and teamwork skills. All of these skills were put to use as she completed her term this April.

As Olivia completed her term, another Mount Pulaski member was hoping to begin his. Felipe Buenrostro spent a good portion of the conference preparing and running to serve as an Illinois State Officer. During the conference he presented a campaign poster, delivered a campaign speech, and answered various fact and situation interview questions before the assembled delegates.

Olivia Letterle, Mr. Waterkotte, and Felipe Buenrostro after the installation of officers.

Once the votes were counted, Felipe was indeed elected to serve as one of six officers to lead the state for the 2017-2018 school year. He will spend his summer training for his new position, interviewing to be assigned his new position, and beginning to plan and lead the activities of the state.

In addition to the activities that were centered around the state officer elections, all ten Mount Pulaski Students in attendance participated in competitive events. Two students competed in FCCLAs State Proficiency Events. These events are state level events that allow the competitors to demonstrate skills that are not tested by the Nation STAR events.

Ashley Berry competed in the Pastry Arts: Frosted Cake event in which she was given a theme and had to decorate a cake on site under the inspection of a team of judges. She received a silver medal rating for her work.

Drew Dyer competed in the Public Speaking: Creed event in which he had to recite the FCCLA creed before a panel of judges and then answer their questions about the creed’s meaning. He received a gold medal rating and was named first in the state.

Felipe Buenrostro, Josh Dyer, Stormy Pal, TJ Benhart, and Garrett Skelton after receiving their medals (Not pictured: Skye Kretzinger and Eli Olson)

The remaining eight members competed in National STAR Events. These events are sponsored by the National Association of FCCLA and allow for the top two finishers in each event to advance to the National Leadership Meeting to compete against the best from around the nation. Olivia Letterle competed in the Job Interview event in which she had to research and create a work portfolio on a job in her interest area. She then had to participate in an interview with a panel of judges as of she were actually applying for the job in question. She received a silver medal rating and was named second in the state.

The Parliamentary Procedure team after their competition. 

The parliamentary procedure team consisting of TJ Benhart, Felipe Buenrostro, Josh Dyer, Skye Kretzinger, Eli Olson, Stormy Pal, and Garrett Skelton also competed in their Parliamentary Procedure Event. In this event, the team must prepare the agenda for a professional business meeting and then conduct that meeting in front of a panel of judges. The team received a silver medal rating and was named first in the state. Both Olivia and the parliamentary procedure team earned the right to advance to the national leadership meeting in Nashville, TN this summer.

It has been another incredible year for Mount Pulaski FCCLA. All of the above students were recognized at the annual FCCLA Recognition Night on May 3, 2017 and the newly elected Chapter Officers were also installed; Felipe Buenrostro (President), Olivia Letterle (Vice-President), Nate Dyer (Secretary), Garrett Skelton (Treasurer), and Teagan Wyss (Public Relations).

There are truly a number of great achievers in Mount Pulaski and especially in the FCCLA. The transition of new officers at the chapter and state level will see new leaders rise to fill roles that they may not even expect yet. If you see any of these members, please extend congratulations and good luck.

[Wyatt Waterkotte
Family & Consumer Sciences
Mount Pulaski High School]