Kentucky students from high school chapters in Allen, Grant, Mason, Martin and Oldham counties attended the National Family, Career and Community Leaders of America Capital Leadership conference in Washington, D.C., Nov. 8-10. More than 250 student leaders and advisers from across the county attended the conference. Submitted photo by Reeca Carver

Kentucky students from high school chapters in Allen, Grant, Mason, Martin and Oldham counties attended the National Family, Career and Community Leaders of America Capital Leadership conference in Washington, D.C., Nov. 8-10. More than 250 student leaders and advisers from across the county attended the conference.
Submitted photo by Reeca Carver

Several Kentucky Family, Career and Community Leaders of America (FCCLA) members, state officers and their advisers attended the National FCCLA Capital Leadership conference in Washington, D.C., Nov. 8-10.

More than 250 student leaders and advisers from across the county attended the conference. Kentucky’s students came from high school chapters in Allen, Grant, Mason, Martin and Oldham counties.

FCCLA members received training focusing on networking, professionalism, strategic planning and advocacy around key teen-centered current issues. Students advocated for family and consumer sciences and career and technical education by showing policymakers how their support for education impacts teens in preparing to be college and career ready. An important aspect of the Capital Leadership conference features teens meeting with their congressional representatives to explain the importance of continued support for the Strengthening Career and Technical Education Act, which reauthorizes the Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Act of 2006.

Olivia O’Hearn, Mason County’s vice president of parliamentary law, was able to be on the floor of the U.S. House with her representative, Thomas Massey.

“It was a once in a lifetime opportunity,” O’Hearn said.

“I was so proud to see a red FCCLA Blazer on the floor,” said O’Hearn’s adviser Shannon Roberts. “It gave me cold chills to see Olivia be a part of our legislative system.”

FCCLA is a dynamic and effective national student organization that helps young men and women become leaders and address important personal, family, work and societal issues. The group also promotes personal growth and leadership development through family and consumer sciences education. FCCLA is the only student-led organization that focuses on the family.