Grainger High School students Jaida Hopkins, left, and McKayla Brooks, recently competed in the “promote and publicize” event at the District 8 FCCLA STAR competition hosted at Carson-Newman University. The two presented how they worked in the community and school to promote awareness and participation in their Grainger High’s FCCLA club.

Carson-Newman University hosts FCCLA STAR competition Middle and high school students throughout the region attend

For the sixth consecutive year, Carson-Newman University hosted the Family, Career and Community Leaders of America (FCCLA) District 8, Students Taking Action with Recognition (STAR) events competition Wednesday, Feb. 26, in the University’s Blye-Poteat Hall.

Over 110 middle and high students from 16 area schools competed for the opportunity to represent District 8 at the State Leadership Meeting in Nashville in April.

“Competitions include all areas of family and consumer science and highlight projects and activities occurring at schools and in communities, in addition to highlighting students’ personal strengths,” said Heather Whaley, Carson-Newman associate professor of family and consumer sciences.

Carson-Newman alumni and advisory board members served as lead consultants and evaluators of the events.

For Jaida Hopkins and McKayla Brooks, both sophomores at Grainger High School, their FCCLA club not only prepares them for a possible family and consumer sciences degree, but it also teaches them leadership development.

“I used to be not be able to talk to people, and last year I had to talk to a middle school full of eighth graders, and I was fine,” said Brooks. “I could have never done that before FCCLA.”

The girls competed in the “promote and publicize” event, where they presented their work in their community and school to raise awareness and participation in Grainger High School’s FCCLA club. They participated last year and made it all the way to the national level.

FCCLA is a national career and technical student organization that provides personal growth, leadership development and career preparation opportunities for students in Family and Consumer Sciences education.

Carson-Newman University’s Family and Consumer Sciences Department offers several majors leading toward a Bachelor of Science degree. Students have access to high-level faculty and facilities, including a foods and nutrition lab equipped with professional-grade Bosch and Thermador appliances.