Perkins County FCCLA attends district conference

Three members from Perkins County High School FCCLA (Family Career and Community Leaders of America) and FCCLA advisor Cathy Ochsner attended District 11 Leadership Conference at Mid-Plains Community College in McCook on Wednesday, Oct. 24. 

The theme for the 2018 conference was “Lead the Way With FCCLA”. District 11 FCCLA Conference includes FCCLA members from Chase County, Dundy County Stratton, Perkins County, Medicine Valley, Cambridge, Elwood and Arapahoe.

Brooklyn Barnes and Emme Sims placed third in the Junior Creed Speaking Contest.

Joshua Barnes from the PCS Chapter served as the District 11 Vice President of Outreach and spoke about the District Outreach project. Members supported this project by bringing items for the Domestic Abuse/Sexual Assault Services in McCook. 

The main session was presented by Sylvia Alcorn from Wray, Colorado. She started Alcorn Angel and also acquired the training to become a speaker for suicide awareness and prevention. 

The certified training came from the Yellow Ribbon Program based in Westminster, Colo. 

She speaks at smaller schools and conferences to bring attention to mental health issue and suicide prevention. She lost her husband and teenage son to suicide.

Many of the District 11 FCCLA members attending the conference took part in a service project to support the McCook Domestic Abuse and Sexual Assault Services. 

After the opening session and keynote speaker FCCLA seventh through ninth graders took part in a 30-minute tour of campus provided by McCook college students. 

Tenth through 12th graders had a TEAM building activity with Kelly Rippen, the new area vice president of student affairs at McCook Community College.

After lunch everyone was able to choose three mini sessions to attend. 

The mini session choices included “Drug Trends” by Michael Jordan of the McCook Police Department, “Leadership with FCCLA” by State FCCLA Officer Sabra Schmidt, “Buckle Up-FCCLA FACTS Program” by PEER Officer Jasmine Tutlam-Hazen, “Healthy Relationships” by Shelly Daffer from DASAS and “Mental Health and Suicide Prevention” Alcorn.

FCCLA is the only in-school organization with family as the central focus. It supports career development, community service and involvement in projects to strengthen leadership skills in teens.