FCCLA Family Night Banquet Ends the Year
FCCLA Family Night Banquet Ends the Year
by London Sindelar
The annual FCCLA Family Night Banquet began at 7:00 p.m. on Friday, April 25, in the multi-purpose room at the high school. President London Sindelar called the meeting to order and began the program before supper. Officers from this school year presided at the head table. They are London Sindelar, president; Alissa Hoffmann, vice president and District 8 representative; Taylor Aschoff, secretary; Autumn Baumann, treasurer; Shelby Ronspies, historian; Hannah Higgins, public relations officers; Nicole Sullivan, STAR chairperson; Martina Wickett, community outreach chairperson; and Kaylee Dankert, Power of One chairperson.
This year’s guest speaker was Mr. Gary Shada. He spoke about raising awareness of the disrespectful use of the ‘r-word.’ Shada’s daughter, Kylie, is just one of the many children who have been diagnosed with Down syndrome. He discussed the movement to change the use of the ‘r-word’ to refer to people with intellectual disabilities and the use of the word in a disrespectful manner.
After the presentation, FCCLA members were recognized for their membership, with first year members receiving pins and second through fourth year members being recognized with applause.
Some members also completed the Power of One modules, along with numerous members competing in STAR.
FCCLA gives honorary memberships to outstanding community individuals who help the organization. The group honored Mr. Gary Timm for his help and dedication towards the FCCLA organization.
Awards were also given to the top candy grams sellers. This year’s junior high outstanding candy gram salesperson was Breane Hoffmann, while in the senior high, Hannah Higgins received the award for outstanding candy gram salesperson for the third year in a row.
Summer incentive winners, who have earned enough points to go on a fun trip to Mahoney State Park, were also announced.
Alissa Hoffmann was awarded the title of Nebraska State Peer Education Families First Vice Chairperson at this year’s State Leadership Conference, and she received recognition for her achievement at the banquet.
Outstanding class member awards went to one person in each grade based on points earned in FCCLA activities this year. Breane Hoffman was the eighth grade outstanding member; freshman was Shelby Ronspies, sophomore was Hannah Higgins, junior was London Sindelar, and the senior’s outstanding member was Abby Johnson. The overall outstanding FCCLA member award went to Alissa Hoffmann.
Throughout the day and that evening there was a silent auction of themed baskets and buckets of gifts assembled by members and their families. Winning bidders for each basket were announced, and the proceeds of the auction went to Mercy Meals, the Northeast Nebraska Down Syndrome Association, and funding for FCCLA Nationals in Nashville, TN this summer.
The evening ended with installation of new officers for the 2012-2013 school year:
President London Sindelar, vice president Alissa Hoffmann, secretary Taylor Aschoff, treasurer and District 8 representative Autumn Baumann, public relations officer Kaylee Dankert; historian Shelby Ronspies, STAR chairperson Martina Wickett; Power of One chairperson --- Sydney Acklie; and community outreach chairperson Emily Bjorklund.
Hannah Higgins and Shelby Ronspies created a slide show of FCCLA activities and accomplishments over the year and a senior tribute, which they presented at the closing of the banquet.
