Camden County Technical School Students Win National Titles

Two students from Camden County Technical Schools (CCTS) won first place/gold medals at the 2015 Family, Career and Community Leaders of America (FCCLA) National Competition, the school announced on Wednesday.

Maura Lopez Hernandez of Lindenwold, and Briana Latella of Merchantville, are both seniors enrolled in the Early Childhood Education program at the district’s Gloucester Township Campus. They entered and won in the category titled, “Illustrated Talk, Qualities and Statistics of an Effective and Ineffective Teacher.”

“I congratulate these students for their hard work, and thank them for doing an outstanding job of representing Camden County on the national level,” Camden County Freeholder Carmen Rodriguez, liaison to CCTS, said. “We are very proud of our dedicated employees and the accomplishments of our outstanding students that make this a great school.”

The theme of this year’s conference was “Together We Are Healthy” and attendees were challenged to explore the fitness of body, mind and spirit, which is a product of healthy attitudes and habits.

FCCLA brought more than 7,700 of its student leaders, members and advisers to the Walter E. Washington Convention Center in Washington, D.C., from July 6–9 to participate in its National Leadership Conference and Competition.

“Maura and Briana worked hard for months to prepare for this event, and we are so proud of their accomplishment,” Shenay Harris, FCCLA advisor at CCTS, said. “The conference provided opportunities for students and advisers to come together for fun and to listen to inspiring speakers, as well as to expand leadership skills, sharpen talents and explore career pathways.”

In addition to the many learning and networking experiences offered at the conference, more than 30 Family and Consumer Sciences related events, also known as STAR (Students Taking Action with Recognition) Events were offered, providing competitions in such areas as Culinary Arts, Knowledge Bowl, Career Investigation, and Fashion Construction for more than 4,500 event participants.

“A definite highlight of the conference was a youth rally held on Capitol Hill for the dual purpose of celebrating the organization’s 70th anniversary and advocating for strong Family and Consumer Sciences (FACS) education in schools,” said Julie Laucks, FCCLA advisor at CCTS. “Our students had the opportunity to not only meet with U.S. Representative Donald Norcross, but share our views with him and other decision makers.”

Themed, “70 Years Strong,” the event drew more than 3,000 FCCLA members and bathed the Capitol grounds in a sea of FCCLA red. After the rally, members moved into the Capitol to meet personally with their Congressional representatives to share their stories of how FACS education has impacted them.

FCCLA is a national student organization that helps young men and women become leaders and address important personal, family, work, and societal issues through Family and Consumer Sciences education. FCCLA has 200,000 members and more than 5,500 chapters from 49 state associations, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands. The organization has involved more than ten million youth since its inception in 1945.

FCCLA’s 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.