Sports nutrition projects earn two national golds for FCCLA members

    Two members of the FCCLA chapter at Chase County Schools spent July 2-6 in Nashville, Tenn., at the national FCCLA  Leadership Conference.
    Hayley Vitosh, a senior, and Alexis Richmond, a freshman, joined other FCCLA members from across the country to network, attend FCCLA program workshops and leadership sessions, and took part in competitive events.
    The pair took part in the competitive event also known as the STAR  (Students Taking Action for Recognition), and each brought home a gold in their respective sports nutrition divisions.
    STAR events are competitive ones in which members are recognized for proficiency and achievement in chapter and individual projects, leadership skills and career preparation.
    FCCLA Advisor Chelsie Thayer said her two students began their sports nutrition projects in November and competed at the district level in January in Cambridge. They moved on to the state level in April at the State Leadership Conference in Lincoln where both were  State Champions, moving them to the national level.
    Vitosh presented in the Sports Nutrition Senior Division with her project based on cheerleading, while Richmond presented in the Sports Nutrition Junior Division with her project based on professional dancers.
    Individually, Vitosh placed first and Richmond, third, in their divisions in the national competition.
    In addition to the competitive event, the CCS advisor and students attended the opening general session to hear keynote speaker Byron V. Garrett, a thought leader on family engagement. Throughout his career, Garrett has been a visionary agent of change promoting the idea that everyone has an obligation and opportunity to serve the best interests of our nation’s most precious resource—children.
    While in Nashville, they also experienced Music City with a visit to Opryland, attended the free 4th of July concerts in Music City that included Chris Young, the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band and the Nashville Symphony that played during the fireworks display.
    They also participated in the FCCLA Run4Red 5K Run and  Walk.
    At First Tennessee Park, the FCCLA students attended a special private concert performed by Dan + Shay that was exclusively for the FCCLA National Leadership Conference attendees.
    “Hayley and Alexis put a lot of time and work into their STAR Events this past year and didn’t quit practicing or memorizing their speeches like most do right after the State Leadership Conference, Advisor Thayer said.
    She said they continued to improve items on their poster boards and in their speeches to make them better.
    “These girls were dedicated to their projects and knew they would have to be if they wanted to do well at the national level. As their advisor, I am extremely proud of them,” Thayer added.
    “They worked hard and their gold medals were well deserved. They did an awesome job representing the Chase County FCCLA chapter,” she concluded.