ORLANDO, FLORIDA – The 80th FCCLA National Leadership Conference saw the largest numbers in over a decade, with more than 10,000 FCCLA members attending from across the nation. Kayla Coleman from Sapulpa High School attended the conference. The FCCLA chapter adviser at Sapulpa High School is Stephanie Greenfeather.
Oklahoma FCCLA sent the largest delegation to date, with over 500 delegates. During STAR Event recognition session, Oklahoma had 74 Top 10 qualifiers and had 15 National Champions, nine National Runners-Up, and 12 National Third Place events. Oklahoma FCCLA also had two Skill Demonstration Event National Champions, three Skill Demonstration national third-place winners, two Challenge Test National Champions, and one Challenge test National third place winner. Caney FCCLA also walked away as the High School Financial Fitness National runners-up.
Oklahoma FCCLA had a record-breaking membership year, with over 24,000 members, allowing a record-breaking fourteen students to serve as Voting Delegates for the state. Vice President of Membership, Maddie Mueller, of Colbert High School, accepted the membership increase award on behalf of the state delegation. Tessa Inman, Lindsay High School, and Davin Budy, Cherokee High School, were two of the five finalists up for the inaugural member of the year award, each walking away with $3,000. Budy also received the National Technical Honor Society Scholarship.
Kayla Coleman of Sapulpa High School earned a silver medal in her STAR event, Hospitality, Tourism, and Recreation, which she completed over The Mayo Hotel in Tulsa, OK.
“I am incredibly proud of Oklahoma FCCLA and the amazing year we had”, said FCCLA State Adviser Brittani Phillips. “Our delegation showed the rest of the nation that the Oklahoma FCCLA standard is alive and well. Our name was called for numerous awards, our delegation was the most spirited, and it made everyone extremely proud to be from Oklahoma.”
Conference highlights include keynote speaker Alton Fitzgerald White, who had over 4,000 Broadway appearances as Mufasa in Disney’s The Lion King, Red-Talks presented by Oklahoma FCCLA members, and a special event at Universal Studios. “For me, the most memorable moments were watching the delegation cheer and get so excited when any Oklahoman’s name was called. We were one delegation, cheering on our entire state, and seeing the student’s excitement and pride is exactly what this is all about” said Phillips.
The convention concluded Sunday evening with Wright City FCCLA’s Tennyson Elrod Spears being installed as the National Vice President of Competitive Events. Bradon Weibel of Silo High School completed his term as the 2024-2025 National President, serving the national organization well and making all of Oklahoma proud. The National FCCLA Organization is a school-based national youth leadership development organization of more than 250,000 student members in 47 states, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
