To ultimately influence and lead the Nebraska Family Career and Community Leaders of America, two Elkhorn North students have taken on tremendous leadership roles.
FCCLA is a national organization and its mission is to provide personal growth and leadership development through family and consumer sciences. Through this organization, members develop skills for life through character achievement, critical and creative thinking, interpersonal communication, and practical knowledge and career preparation.
FCCLA is a Career and Technical Student-led Organization otherwise known as a CTSO. This term entails that the whole 237,000 member organization is run by students with the minor support of adults. Students lead the organization through officer positions on a chapter, district, state, or national teams.
At the chapter level, Elkhorn North has 37 nationally and state affiliated members, has monthly meetings related to different service projects, and has eight members who competed in state STAR (Students Taking Action with Recognition) projects in April of 2024.
At the 2023 FCCLA State Leadership Conference, the first ever Elkhorn North student, Courtney Hagestad, was inducted into the 2023-2024 Nebraska State Officer Team. Hagestad earned the title of Vice President of Public Relations and took on the role of promoting Nebraska FCCLA via social media and email. This required Hagestad to post on all social media platforms and issue a press release after every major conference.
Due to the responsibility of holding a State Officer Title, the election process is very rigorous. It involves a detailed application, interviews with members of the board of directors, and a speech at the FCCLA State Leadership Conference. After all these measures are taken, members who serve as voting delegates and have watched each candidate’s speech at the State Leadership Conference will vote for the most qualified individual.
“Courtney has really stepped outside of her comfort zone for this state wide position,” Elkhorn North FCCLA adviser Jamie Janousek said. “I truly condemn her for all she has done.”
Throughout the 2023-2024 school year, Hagestad visited other Nebraska FCCLA chapters, planned and led several conferences, and ultimately led the organization at the state level, in order to fulfill her title as a state officer.
“I impacted the organization by sharing my love and passion for FCCLA,” Hagestad said. “My favorite part of holding the title was meeting all lots of new members and connecting with them on a new level.”
In February of 2024, Hagestad traveled down to Lincoln to plan for the April State Leadership Conference, which caused her to miss a whole week of school. The full three day conference was entirely planned by students and was attended by over 2,000 people. At the conference, Hagestasd spoke multiple times to all students and advisers in attendance to further promote FCCLA.
“Missing a lot of school was hard, but speaking and leading a large conference was a once in a lifetime experience,” Hagestad said.
Also while in Lincoln, Hagestad attended Nebraska legislature day at the state capital. She used her voice and passion for FCCLA to lobby her own district senators for LB 610, which provides state funding for Career and Technical Education. Prior to the passage of LB 610, Nebraska was the only state to not fund CTE programs, but now $200,000 was given to Nebraska CTSOs to split evenly.
“FCCLA caused me to have mature conversations with respected adults because of the situations and circumstances I was in as a state officer,” senior Courtney Hagestad said. “Without being a state officer, I would have never developed the leadership and competence skills I have today.”
While Hagestad’s time as a State Officer was finished during the 2024 State Leadership Conference, her dedication and love for FCCLA encouraged fellow junior member Ashleigh George to apply for office. She journeyed through the strenuous process and was elected as the 2024-2025 Vice President of Development on April 9, 2024.
The title of Vice President of Development requires George to lead different state events and promote the national programs of FCCLA. By holding an officer position, George will also draw up a plan of work for Nebraska FCCLA and vote on laws within the national organization.
“My state officer position will require me to put more time and work into FCCLA while also handling school and sports,” George said. “I am up for the challenge.”
In the 2024-2025 school year, George will make a variety of connections and have her own experiences while being a State Officer.
“I am most excited to work with my team and take this further step as a leader to have growth in myself,” George said. “I’m very lucky to have this opportunity and excited to be as involved as I can be by talking with many people.”
Both George and Hagestad represent Elkhorn North in Nebraska FCCLA and lead the organization at a higher level.
“Having two state officers has put Elkhorn North on the map for Nebraska FCCLA,” Janousek said. “We are able to have our voices heard about the city and bring a different perspective of FCCLA to the table.”
