FCCLA District 7 STAR Events
Wednesday, January 24 – Wayne State College

The District 7 Family, Careers, and Community Leaders of America (FCCLA) held their STAR (Students Taking Action with Recognition) Events competition on Wednesday in Wayne. STAR Events are FCCLA’s only competitive activity where students complete projects, write speeches, create visuals, and give presentations.  Students participated from five member schools including:  Laurel-Concord, Randolph, Wakefield, West Point Public, and Wisner-Pilger.  Kathy Mitchell, STAR Coordinator for District 7 welcomed the participants and guests to the event.  There were 97 registered participants this year. 

After a long day of anticipation and anxiety, all of the events were finished and awards were announced.  Events vary, with some students completing projects and presenting their projects to the judge with a speech and others giving speeches on a selected topic.  Participants receive a gold medal for a score of 90-100, silver medal for a 70-89 and a bronze for scores below 70.  Following is a list of the Laurel-Concord FCCLA members, the category they competed in, and the awards received:  Lindsay Heydon and Savannah Kreisel, Family Challenges and Issues, Jr. (topic – Abuse in Teen Relationships) -  silver; and Traci Andresen, Family Challenges and Issues, Sr. (topic-Kindergarten Readiness) – gold.  The rest of the students received top gold/district champion which qualifies them to compete at the state STAR Events competition in April.  The top gold winners in the Nebraska STAR Events were:  Brianne Hoesing, Consumer Issues, Jr. (topic – Elder Fraud); Emily Koester and Kenda Praseuth, Consumer Issues, Sr. (topic – Cyberbullying); and Aimee Anderson, Health & Wellness, Sr. (topic – Miscarriage).  The top gold winners in the National STAR Events were:  Katlyn Dahlquist Becky Hoesing, and Heather Bearnes, Interpersonal Communications, Sr. (topic – Bullying); Sasha Hackney and Ashley Maxon, Illustrated Talk, Sr. (topic – Fad Diets); and Kayla Neuhalfen, Job Interview, Sr.