July 2018 – Over 8,000 Family, Career, and Community Leaders of America (FCCLA) members, advisers, alumni, and guests from across the nation traveled to Atlanta, Georgia for the 2018 National Leadership Conference (NLC) June 28 – July 2. The conference was an incredible opportunity for members to develop leadership skills by attending a multitude of workshops and training programs. Students listened to well-known motivational speakers. Members explored different career paths and colleges while attending the conference and learned new ways to “Be Inspired” through conversation with members from across the country.

Rylee Rinehart, Dell Rapids FCCLA member, qualified for national competition at the state conference held in April. She was one of the middle and high school members from chapters across the state who competed at this level. She presented her Food Innovations STAR Event and received a gold rating.

Rinehart and her advisor, Beverly Rieck, also served as room consultant volunteers for different STAR Event presentations.

During the opening general session, the members listened to keynote speaker Johnny Earle, also known as Johnny Cupcakes. Johnny Earle is the founder of Johnny Cupcakes, a T-shirt business that aims to make the entire process feel like a bakery. He had started sixteen businesses before he turned sixteen and spoke about what he learned throughout the years. His words inspired members to do what makes them happy and to follow their dreams.

During the closing general session, Chick-Fil-A CEO, President, and Chairperson Dan T. Cathy spoke to members his life lessons. Cathy believes in having passion behind all the work we do. He also believes we must take the initiative if we wish to see change occur in our world. Cathy was a generous sponsor during NLC.

Family, Career and Community Leaders of America (FCCLA) is a dynamic and effective national student organization with the goal to help men and women grow as youth leaders in their communities and remain strong leaders into the future. FCCLA pursues to address personal, family, work, and societal issues and find solutions through Family and Consumer Sciences education. FCCLA reaches these goals thanks to the 200,000 members that are active within the organization. Over 5,500 chapters are spread among forty-nine state associations, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands. Since 1945, more than ten million youth have been involved and have grown within FCCLA.

FCCLA: The Ultimate Leadership Experience stands apart from other youth organizations because the programs and events are planned, led, and carried out by members. FCCLA is the only career and technical in-school student organization with the family as its central focus. When members participate in national programs and local chapter activities, they grow and develop into strong leaders in their families, careers, and communities. The members lead in the present, and they will continue to lead into the future with help from the skills learned from FCCLA’s programs, workshops, and overall curriculum.