News Release for the State FCCLA Peer Education Conference
February 27, 2023

Kearney, NE - The Twin River FCCLA Chapter joined over 370 other Nebraska
FCCLA members and advisers at the State Peer Education Conference held in
Kearney, NE on February 27, 2023. The theme of the meeting was “Channeling Your
Inner Leader.” The State Peer Officer Team encouraged chapters to focus their
leadership efforts at a local level through their Community Outreach Project.
There were 8 attendees from the Twin River Chapter present at the conference where
Twin River received two of the three 1st place trophies for National Programs in
Action projects. The first of these projects, was represented by Adalyn Bishop, 7th
grade FCCLA member at Twin River. Adalyn and her partner Annabelle Kleckner
planned and implemented a FACTS (Families Acting for Community Traffic Safety)
project that educated the elementary students on how to stay safe and be seen on
Halloween. Adalyn, Annabelle, and other FCCLA members participated in the
community Trunk or Treat event where they handed out candy with traffic safety
messages and glowsticks to all children so that they could be seen by drivers on
Halloween.


The Stand Up National Program award was presented to Joselyn Gulbrandson, who
represented Freshman members Madalyn Moeller, Jaclyn Everett, Aubree
Brandenburger, and Laynie Allen who are advocating for the need for a daycare
facility in our community. These members gathered data to show how a daycare
facility would have a positive impact on our community and presented that to the
school board as well as Grow Genoa council.


In addition to awards, Twin River FCCLA attendees also attended leadership training
sessions on 3 major National Programs in Action as well as a keynote session.
The keynote speaker at the conference was Monica Huber, a training specialist. Her
presentation was titled “‘SUP- Show Up Prepared.” She shared a message about
being prepared for everything in life, with leadership and schoolwork examples.
Additionally, three breakout sessions that represented the three FCCLA National
Programs the State Peer Officer Teams are promoting this year: Families Acting for
Community Traffic Safety (FACTS), Career Connection, and Stand Up. The FACTS
session was presented by members of the Community Leader Team and featured the
Nebraska State Patrol. Trooper Shriver and Trooper Kroeger provided a rollover
demonstration for members and advisers. 

The Career Leader Team hosted a Career Panel with Carol Erwin (post-secondary teacher educator), Hannah Kizer (interior designer), Kris Walahoski (registered dietician), and Tyler Clay (Buckle recruiter).  Each of their careers represented a different section of the FCS Career Pathway.

These representatives answered questions from members about their own careers
and how they got to where they are today. The Family Leader Team partnered with
Jackie Freeman presenting “A Healthy Outside Starts from the Inside.” Jackie shared
her story as a past FCCLA member and also keeping her life balanced with being a
mom, running coach, and school nurse. Her main point included how to balance
physical health with mental health to keep our “insides” as healthy as our “outsides.”
She expressed that all members have a special place in this life and that we will
achieve great things now and in the future.