Leach Earns Gold At National Contest
July 12, 2010
Elyssa Leach, Pierce FCCLA chapter member, received a gold medal in the competitive event Recycle and Redesign at the national FCCLA contest in Chicago, Illinois, July 2-8. She competed against approximately 50 students in the senior division and was one of eight who received the top medal placing.
Elyssa participated in a STAR (Students Taking Action with Recognition) event called Recycle and Redesign. This event recognizes participants who apply recycling and designing skills to create a brand new product. Her product was a wood decoration for the home. The materials she used were a part of an old schoolhouse that had been torn down in Stanton County. She took the old wood from the walls and floors and cleaned it up to make three sizes of wall or tabletop decorations, and embellished her project with used baling wire and the original building’s square-head nails.
In addition to creating her product, she had to research recycling, the effects it has on our environment, and the consequences to society. Elyssa then created a display and gave a speech that communicated her project.
At the national FCCLA contest, over 6,100 FCCLA members participated in competitive events, work shops, general sessions, and exhibits that focused on helping students understand and face today’s challenging youth issues. Aside from gaining skills to implement in their family, career, and community life, members networked with peers from across the nation and joined in celebrating FCCLA’s 65th birthday the entire week.
FCCLA: the Ultimate Leadership Experience is unique among youth organizations because its programs are planned and run by members. It is the only career and technical in-school student organization with the family as its central focus. Participation in national programs and chapter activities helps members become strong leaders in their families, careers, and communities.
Leach, daughter of Dennis and Marjori Leach of Pierce, will be a senior at PHS this school year. Elyssa plans on selling her recycling product at Farmers’ Market this summer. About the FCCLA event, she said, “The FCCLA National Leadership Conference was a great experience. Not only was I able to compete at the national level, but I met people from all around the country who had the same goals and values as I. It was an honor to have the opportunity to go and compete and represent PHS and Nebraska FCCLA at the national level. I would encourage others to take the risk and create a project that relates to something they are passionate about.”
