Woodford Co. student becomes first Ky. FCCLA national officer in 5 years
WOODFORD COUNTY, Ky. (WKYT) - A Kentucky high schooler is among ten of the nation’s top student leaders from Family, Career and Community Leaders of America (FCCLA) who are taking their voices to Washington D.C.
FCCLA is a national, student-led organization grounded in family and consumer sciences education.
In a few days Woodford County High School student Sutton Sherrard will head to the nation’s capital and represent FCCLA’s more than 250,000 members.
“It’s the creme de la creme that are coming to this meeting,” said FCCLA CEO Sandy Spavone. “They’re very high-level learners, very high-level leaders at their stage but we’re taking them to another level.”
Building life skills through FCCLA
FCCLA is integrated into a high school’s family and consumer sciences curriculum. Students are exposed to things like career opportunities, real-world skills and family relationships.
“Kentucky alone has 164 FCCLA chapters and over 10,000 members,” said Spavone.
However, Spavone said not every school offers it.
“That’s where school counselors and administration and school boards can make sure that family consumer science is available to every student.”
Capitol Leadership Experience
Next week, Sherrard will attend Capitol Leadership. Students from across the country will participate in various workshops and engage with government relations professionals.
“I’m really excited to get to talk to our senators and our representatives,” said Sutton Sherrard, FCCLA’s National VP of Programs. “It’s super incredible that we get to shine a light on family and consumer sciences and on career technical education.”
Spavone said these students are who will strengthen America’s workforce tomorrow.
“You want those who you’re working with to have those life skills that they can learn in a family consumer sciences course. No matter what job they pursue they’re successful in life wholistically.”
“I’m going to be able to use those skills in an interview room, in budgeting, writing a check, when I have a family of my own,” said Sherrard.
Sherrard said it’s been five years since Kentucky FCCLA has had a national officer. This year, she’s one of two so the representation is a big deal for the Commonwealth.