Joseph youth heads to D.C. for FCCLA

Her passion 

This is McBurney’s sixth year in FCCLA. 

"The organization I’m most passionate about is FCCLA,” she said Thursday, Nov. 6. “I joined in middle school because of the opportunities.”

Those opportunities include encouraging youths to pursue education that will result in a career. McBurney hopes to attend the U.S. Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, Colorado, where she’ll obtain her undergraduate degree. She said the academy has a unique scholarship program that will help her go on to a civilian medical school, and from there, she can pursue a residency with the Air Force that will qualify her as a pediatric trauma surgeon.

“It’ll take a lot (of study)” she said. “FCCLA really helps prepare for career roles. FCCLA has really helped me with that.”

Family

McBurney said that her mother, Chantay Jett, who is CEO of Hearts for Health in Enterprise, was a big influence on her wanting to get into the medical field.

“It totally did. She’s a big inspiration,” McBurney said.

Her father is Lem McBurney, who is in construction management. She also has a brother, Keenan McBurney, who goes to Boise State University in Idaho.

In the capital

While she’s in the nation’s capital, McBurney hopes to attend a variety of workshops with more than 180 other students from across the country for hands-on training on public policy, leadership development and the effect of education on America’s future workforce. The youths will engage with government relations professionals, attend advocacy and communication workshops and develop action plans to strengthen Family and Consumer Sciences education in their states and communities. 

She said she also hopes to meet with members of Oregon’s congressional delegation while she’s in D.C.  

“As we gather in Washington, D.C., for Capitol Leadership, I’m inspired by the professionalism and poise our members bring to every conversation,” said Sandy Spavone, FCCLA CEO. “Their leadership today is shaping the policies that will strengthen America’s workforce tomorrow.”

State leadership 

McBurney is one of 10 members of the FCCLA National Executive Council — a president and nine vice presidents. Her peers elected her vice president of membership. She had experience at leadership, having served two years as president of the Oregon State chapter of FCCLA.

“So I have some experience under my belt,” she said.

But it wasn’t just a popularity contest. There were speeches to make and other ways to demonstrate leadership skills.  

“It’s a very competitive and vigorous process,” she said.  

McBurney, who is about to graduate from high school, said this is “technically my last year” as a member of FCCLA. However, she hopes to remain involved as an alumna.  

But McBurney sees the benefit in demonstrating leadership and generally participating in FCCLA and helping younger students along the way.

“I’m so determined to see students get those connections to family and consumer sciences in their lives, and FCCLA provides all of those opportunities,” she said.  

But right now, it’s her time to make a difference.  

“I’m just beyond excited to represent FCCLA at the national level,” she said. “We’re going to make it great.”