HOISINGTON — While high school sports is on hiatus this Spring, activities are still on with many clubs and organizations turning to the same virtual platforms as businesses and governments. Members of the Hoisington Family, Career, Community Leaders of America chapter competing in Interpersonal Communications advanced from virtual state competition to virtual national competition in STAR events. Others who took part in the Chapter Service Project competition presented earlier in the year at a live event, and will virtually compete at Nationals later this Spring. 

When the school year started, FCCLA members considered project ideas, and landed on one with community appeal: Clara Barton hospital, finding they were in need of additional funding for the 3D Mammography machine, reached out for help from the organization. Senior Emma Reif got a committee together and had numerous meetings for an event they named “Pink Out in October.”  

For the month of October, the committee decorated the halls of HHS with the pink out theme, reminding everyone it was breast cancer awareness month.  To raise awareness, they handed out ribbons at the volleyball game that week as well as sold bracelets and bandanas. In addition, they offered face painting at the game.  They also organized a hat day where students could pay $1.00 to wear a hat in school with proceeds going to the cause. At the Friday night home football game, they brought out the face paint and  sold bandanas and ribbons again. They exceeded their goal of raising $200, or $1.00 per high school student. Ultimately, they raised $300 for Clara Barton hospital for the 3D Mammography machine.  

Pink Out organizer Reif and Matthew MacMahon competed in district STAR events in February and received a silver and advanced on to state competition in Level 3 Chapter Service Project Display. Reif and Cheyenne Martinz competed at the state level and received a silver and advanced to national competition. 

Interpersonal communication competition

Brayden Copp and Jarrett Shives participated in the Level 3 Interpersonal Communications.  Their project focused on what students learned about communicating with adults about their community service projects. Addressing individuals in a respectful manner, making eye contact and delivering “I” messages and “you” messages were all expounded upon. They highlighted projects that included helping the Hoisington Chamber of Commerce paint sidewalk stars for Labor day and helping with the little cars at Labor day and building a float for Wilson State Bank for the Labor day parade.  They also spoke about hosting a chamber coffee and working concession stands for the booster club. Helping with Hoisington rec activities such as Haunted hall and the father/daughter dance also factored into their presentation.  At district Copp and Shives received gold and silver at state.

Officials cancelled the State FCCLA Leadership Conference, set for the beginning of April, due to the COVID 19.  STAR (Students Taking Action with Recognition) Events took place virtually instead. The students met at the high school and they waited for a Zoom call then made their presentation to one judge. 

They received a silver, advancing to Nationals. 

The announcement was made in late April that the FCCLA National Leadership meeting in Washington DC this year has been cancelled, but competitors will have the opportunity to finish out their year with a virtual presentation.   

“It’s very disappointing and doesn’t really feel the same as going to national,” Jarrett Shives said. “I can’t say I feel satisfied, but at the same time I want to still see it through till the end and I also look forward to seeing what my senior year will bring. I want to finish my high school career feeling accomplished. I really am tired of disappointment, so I’m willing to do whatever it takes to finish strong.”

Brayden Copp stated, “I feel that even though this year I have had (and continue) to have many goals realized, I do feel like I have been kinda cheated out of my last part of my junior year.”

Karla Reisner, the FCCLA sponsor, remains positive. 

“It is really exciting to have these kids advance to national competition,” she said.

She shared other student accomplishments for the year. When Copp was named as district president in January, and Gabe Hipp was selected to the Peer Ed team in March, the team knew we were headed in the right direction.  

“Then the two groups qualified for nationals, so we were really excited,” she said.  

With the Nationals conference happening online, students who qualified will turn their efforts towards raising money to travel to Nashville next year for the national meeting. 

“They have worked hard and earned the right to attend,” Reisner said. “Right now, we have to focus on everyone getting healthy.”