Featuring Excellence at the FCCLA BanquetÂ
By Meredith Krienert
The FCCLA banquet was held this past Monday, April 20, at 6 p.m. to highlight the year's accomplishments. The banquet doubles as a silent auction, with themed baskets sold to raise money for the club’s scholarship fund. This fund allows for students who do not always have the means to join the club to do so without the burden of costs.
Some of the themed baskets that were auctioned off consisted of a dirty Dr. Pepper making kit, a beach day basket, and a coffee making kit with all the necessities to make a perfect cup of joe. The basket title “Home Run” included two packages of local Wragge Dogs, chips, sunflower seeds, softballs, as well as the other necessary things for any upcoming summer ball game.
Also at the banquet, the previous officers were retired, and the new officers were inducted. The former president, Alyssa Kuper, passed on her leadership role to sophomore, Jada Johnson, who will be the FCCLA chapter’s president next school year. Johnson will be aided in her presidency by Darcy Watts, the future vice president, filling the shoes of Sydney Kuper, and Kate Anderson, the upcoming secretary, along with Tara Friedrichsen as the vice president of socials.
“Our main goals for next year are community service and getting people involved. I know Darcy really wants to focus on the elementary and working with them and everything. But mostly just being more community based and making connections and stuff,” Jada Johnson said.
There is no doubt the prior FCCLA leaders will be missed, but they feel content knowing they are leaving the club in good hands.
Some highlights of FCCLA this year included their annual memory tree commemoration for community members who have lost loved ones around Christmas time, selling and distributing candy grams for Valentine’s Day, the club sold Shirley Temples during study hall as a fundraiser during FCCLA week, and of course having two members, Collin Wessendorf a sophomore, and Raleigh Pfeiffer, a junior, competing at the district STAR competition.
“This year, I genuinely enjoyed my time with my students when we were out and about in Lincoln, eating out, and going to sessions. It truly was a lot of fun. We had the kind of seniors, the seniors that really were kind of the icing on the cake,” Angie Brodersen, the FCCLA sponsor, said. “I had quite a bit of fun with my seniors at state leadership conference, you know, like with the Kuper twins. I've been with them forever, and so it's really fun just having those little connections with them.”
All in all, the banquet was a great way to wrap up all of the memories and success of the past year.
