FCCLA is a club focused on volunteering, honing leadership skills, and preparing for students’ futures. FCCLA stands for Family Career and Community Leaders of America. Every other Thursday, a group of students meet in room 315 to discuss upcoming events.

FCCLA is a national organization, and any school with a Family and Consumer Sciences department (classes such as Catering, Teen Challenges and Living On Your Own) is able to create an FCCLA organization provided that the adviser is a Family and Consumer Sciences teacher.

According to the national FCCLA website, their mission is “to promote personal growth and leadership development through Family and Consumer Sciences education” by “focusing on the multiple roles of family member, wage earner and community leader, members develop skills for life through character development, creative and critical thinking, interpersonal communication, practical knowledge, and career preparation.”

Madeline Butler, the FCCLA sponsor and Family and Consumer Sciences teacher, participated in FCCLA at her high school, so she wanted to continue the club when she became a teacher.

“I love being a part of it, I love the opportunities it gave me, so it was something I was really eager to start here at Fairview,” said Butler. “Once we started it last year, it’s just been growing and increasing ever since.”

FCCLA student president junior Haley Massey, said, “I am kind of a shy person, and being president of this [FCCLA club] I have to lead the meetings, and I have to speak out loud in front of however many people come to the meeting, and it has really helped me with my people skills and my leadership skills.”

During the meetings, Massey discusses the upcoming events for FCCLA with the rest of the club. They cover topics such as the community service event, fundraiser, and state competition in April.

On Wednesday, April 17, FCCLA members will attend the state competition in Denver where there is a motivational keynote speaker and workshops, such as one on becoming leaders.

There are also many STAR (Students Taking Action with Recognition) events that students can compete in and even judge. They include job interviews, constructing an outfit, group cooking competitions, or even researching a career. After the events, students can celebrate with an included dinner, or a “fun night” hosted for all competitors.

Students don’t need to have an extensive background or skill in something to compete in the state competition.

“By no means do [students] have to be an expert. Obviously, they will want to compete in something they’ll do well in, that they’re comfortable with. So people who aren’t comfortable in the kitchen, there not comfortable with a knife, they probably won’t go compete in like, knife skills and knife safety,” said Butler.

For their fundraiser, they plan to hold matchmaking surveys for students, which will happen in February so that students can get their results around Valentines Day. The money raised will help send students to the FCCLA state competition.

“It’s a really fun survey, people can take really quick and easy, and then just three dollars to pick it up and see their results, and they get to see the top ten people their most compatible with, in their grade, the grade below, and the grade above,” said Butler. “They also get to see the top 10 people that they’re the most opposite of.”

FCCLA also operates a community service event, and this year the club is leaning towards doing something with kids, such as babysitting.

“During the next parent-teacher conference we’re thinking about holding a room that the parents can put their little children in, and we could babysit them, so the parents could have more one-on-one conversations with their teen’s teacher, and it would be for free for the parents,” said Massey.

Not only is FCCLA a fun and practical way to connect with peers in school, it also helps you build your future outside of school. It develops leadership skills, looks great on a resume, and there are plenty of scholarship opportunities available for students.

“It’s really great, it gives kids a lot of opportunities to hold those leadership positions, practice leadership roles, gives them opportunities to attend conferences and workshops with kids all throughout Colorado that are also in FCCLA, gives them opportunities for competition, and traveling, and then lots of community service, volunteering, fundraising,” said Butler.

The organization focuses on developing strong futures, but it also develops strong qualities and values in a student for their future.

“They’re all solely focused on not only leadership but just becoming a better person, a better you, pushing yourself out of the comfort zone, becoming more confident in who you are and maybe even helping you realize a career in what you want to do,” said Butler. “It helps a lot of people realize their full potential, and it really pushes them out of their comfort zone. It feels good to be a part of something too, and feeling like you have a team, you have people that are there to support you.”