STUDENTS DEVELOP LEADERSHIP SKILLS THROUGH COMPETITION

Pottstown High School is helping to build the leaders of tomorrow. The Family, Career, and Community Leaders of America Club (FCCLA) along with sponsors Marilyn Bainbridge and Mary Jo Kuhwald recently competed in the FCCLA State Championship Conference. During the conference, students have the opportunity to show off their family, career, and community leadership skills, listen to inspirational speakers, network with other future leaders, and compete in a variety of skill-based activities. Students competing in the Culinary Arts division faced a fierce cook-off against other teams. Their entry is judged in a number of categories including appearance, teamwork, and taste. Hanna Irvin competed in the cake decorating category. Their imagination and creativity is challenged as the students are not given advanced notice of the theme that will be used in the competition. Their only preparation is to be given a list of the items which must be used in the event. Equally, the baking and pastry competition calls on not only the culinary talents of students but their knowledge of nutritional values and their ability to evaluate the health status and nutritional needs of individuals. Students competing in the area of hospitality are required to investigate careers in customer service and concepts of marketing. -2- Pottstown High School students fared well. Earning Silver medals were: Alyssa Wanish in the category of Culinary; Hannah Irvin in Cake Decorating; Jaime Caballero and Matthew Taylor in Culinary. Kim Swanson also added a Silver medal in the Food and Beverage Service competition. Bronze medal award winners were: Robbie McCoy in Baking and Pastry Arts; and Ryan Krause and Derek Piechota in Hospitality. Savanna Seeders rounded out the Bronze medal recognition by placing in the category of Nutrition. Jamie Yergey was selected as a Conference Voting Delegate. Ryan Krause and Derek Piechota were successful in qualifying for the National Competition later this year which will be held in Nashville, Tennessee. Mrs. Bainbridge pointed out, “Our students gained valuable leadership, organizational, academic, social, and professional skills by participating in events such as this. It broadens their world view and gives them new ideas and opportunities. We are proud of our students and the success that they have had in this event and know that they will use it to help further themselves as young adults.”