Typically every summer qualifying participants from FCCLAs STAR Events (Students Taking Action with Recognition) make their way to the Nation Leadership Conference held all over the country. However, COVID-19 and stay at home orders shut down the state and country these plans changed.

National FCCLA announced that the annual convention had been moved to a virtual platform on April 23. Competitors would have the opportunity to send their recordings to the judges, so they could be evaluated and all sessions would be available to watch as a chapter or individually. After seven teams from SES competed in a virtual state conference it was announced that three of the teams from Southeast of Saline had qualified to advance to the nationals level and would be participating in this virtual conference.

The three SES teams to qualify for the national level were the Parliamentary Procedure Level 3 team, consisting of Madeline Blake, Breanna Standley, Madison Lawson, Jocelyn Pembleton, Anya Pohl, Katie Moddelmog, and Braedon Mcvay. On the Parliamentary Procedure Level 2 team, Kayleb Qualls, Ellie Grauerholz, Karsyn Schlesener, Hart Nurnberg, Morgan Albrecht, Lindsey Dean, Mallorie Pearson, and Korey Kogler. Lastly, the third team that qualified for Nationals was the Chapter in Review Level 3 team which consisted of Luisa Ortega, Makenzie Boley, and DorothyAnn Sparacino. 

While all of the teams were very disappointed they didn’t get to make the trip to Washington D.C., the Level 3 Parliamentary Procedure team, which consisted of all Class of 2020 students, was impacted the most. However, to help the qualifying teams celebrate the advisor, Susan Wilson, held a watch party celebration where they were able to participate in the virtual conference together. 

As the participants watched the National conference together it was announced that all three teams received a gold medal ranking. It was then later announced in a very special Zoom Meeting that the Level 3 Par-Law team received first in the Nation, Level 2 Par-Law received third in the Nation, and Level 3 Chapter In Review received fifth in the Nation.

To end the summer, the FCCLA Chapter also had to elect their new local officers, to lead them through the new challenging year. Just like many other things, elections were also held virtually to reduce face to face contact. The 2020-2021 Chapter Officer team will consist of Makenzie Boley, President; Luisa Ortega, First VP; DorothyAnn Sparacino, Secretary; Hallie Pasley, Treasurer; Joslyn Smith, Co-Treasurer; Korey Kogler, VP of Programs; Kayleb Qualls, VP of STAR Events; Lindsey Dean, VP of Community Service; Emma Lippold, VP of Public Relations; Brooklyn Adams, Freshman Representative; and Sherida Johnson, Freshman Representative.