Minneota qualifies 12 for FCCLA nationals

Twelve students from Minneota earned the right to advance to the FCCLA STAR Event National Conference through state competition held last weekend in St. Louis Park.
The 12 girls that comprised nine teams (teams can be solo or multiple members) that advanced to the FCCLA National Leadership Conference July 2-6 in Denver, CO competed in seven different categories, with six placing first and one second. A total of 14 girls competed in the state meet in eight different categories.
Those teams from Minneota advancing are: Kaci Callens (GOLD), first in Career Investigation; Samara Sumerfelt (SILVER), second in Career Investigation; Faith Myhre (GOLD), first in Entrepreneurship; Cora Fischer (GOLD), first in Fashion Design; Jaelin Anderson (GOLD), first in Focus on Children; Trinity Kirschbaum (GOLD), first in Focus on Children; Lydia Coequyt-Ella Johnson-Madison Hennen (GOLD), first in Food Innovations; Kylie Sterzinger (SILVER), first alternate in National Programs in Action; and Kate Hennen-Kylee Loyson (GOLD), first in Nutrition and Wellness. Ryanna Walder (GOLD) was a third alternate in Professional Presentation, and Jewelz Vierstraete (SILVER) was a second alternate in Entrepreneurship.
“The girls all did very well,” said LeaAnne, Minneota FCCLA Advisor. “They all worked hard and made great presentations.”
In the Career Investigation category: Callens researched the career of Business Management, including any education required and schools offering degrees in business. Sumerfelt researched the career of Elementary Education, including the education required and schools offering degrees in that field.
In Entrepreneurship: Myhre developed a home cleaning business and developed safe and “green” cleaning products to use in her business. Vierstraete developed a jewelry business, as well as designing the jewelry she currently sells.
In Fashion Design: Fischer designed four outfits for career women, created sketches of each design, drafted a pattern and constructed one of the outfits.
In Focus on Children: Anderson developed a lesson on the danger of vaping and presented her lesson to middle school students. Kirschbaum developed a lesson on understanding emotions and presented her lesson to elementary school students.
In Food Innovations: The team of Coequyt-Johnson-Hennen developed three different types of cookies that are low in sugar, conducted sensory evaluation for each cookie, and created nutrition labels and packaging.
In National Programs in Action: Sterzinger’s community service project made connections with nursing home residents and elementary students.
In Nutrition and Wellness: The team of Hennen-Loyson analyzed a family’s food intake for a period of three weeks, and then developed goals and meal plans.
In Professional Presentation: Waldner researched and prepared a presentation on Eating Disorders.

Minneota students who participated in the State FCCLA STAR Event last weekend. Front row, left to right: Jerlyn Calderson (student manager), Samara Sumerfelt, Trinity Kierschbaum, Kylie Sterzinger, Jaelin Anderson, Ryanna Waldner. Back row, left to right: Faith Myhre, Ella Johnson, Jewelz Vierstraete, Lydia Coequyt, Kylee Loyson, Kate Hennen, Kaci Callens. Missing from photo, Madison Hennen, Cora Fischer.