Bringing together the worlds of art, culinary, sewing, and teaching, FCCLA provides students with a platform to express their creativity and leadership. Months of preparation culminated in an exciting event where students displayed their handmade projects, demonstrating dedication and originality.
FCCLA is a statewide organization that encourages students to develop leadership and career skills through hands-on competition. On Feb. 7, 14 students from West Chicago Community High School traveled to the College of DuPage to compete in various events, including Charcuterie Board, Children’s Literature Presentation, Pastry Arts Decorated Cookie, Pastry Arts Frosted Cakes, and Preschool Lesson.
Students spent two to three months preparing for their events, crafting materials from scratch and perfecting their presentations. Many competitors dressed the part, donning chef coats or themed costumes to enhance their displays. While the competitions may appear lighthearted, participants put in serious effort, striving to perform at their best.
For many students, regionals marked their first taste of FCCLA competition, and the intensity caught them off guard.
“I was looking left and right, people were competing and decorating a lot more than I was and it was pretty intense. They were decorating their base and their presentation, more than their actual cookie, which is something I’m gonna do in state,” Freshman Adam Al bdairi said.
Competitors quickly realized the level of effort others put into their events, learning valuable lessons for future competitions.
Each event had unique requirements and expectations, with students judged against a rubric rather than competing directly against one another. The feedback provided will help participants refine their skills in preparation for the state competition.
“I think I would try to address some of the advice that the judges gave me during this year’s competition: asking the children open-ended questions so they can interact in lessons,” junior Sneha George said.
Preparation was key, and some competitors discovered the hard way how important it is to plan ahead.
“I was rushing all my ingredients and materials, and I saw how everyone else was prepping their cookies [while competing],” freshman Francisco Castro said.
Judges emphasized that a strong, clear theme at the start of the competition was essential for success.
Despite the challenges, West Chicago’s FCCLA competitors walked away with impressive results.
- Gold: Senior Sukhraj Singh Gakhal, Junior Gabriella Castro, and Junior Katie Munoz – Children’s Literature Presentation
- Gold: Junior Sneha George – Preschool Lesson
- Silver: Junior Ruth Dim – Charcuterie Board
- Silver: Junior Rosie Cuautle – Preschool Lesson
- Silver: Juniors Citlali Garcia Alvarez, Angelica Correa Aviles, and Freshman Adam Al Bdairi – Pastry Arts Decorated Cookie
- Bronze: Freshman Luna Alcazar and Freshman Weni Koudi – Children’s Literature Presentation
- Bronze: Freshman Francisco Castro – Pastry Arts
- Bronze: Junior Jennifer Montoya – Preschool Lesson
For many, competing in FCCLA was a step outside their comfort zone, but the experience allowed them to grow and refine their talents.
“Confidence is key—everyone and anyone is welcome,” FCCLA adviser Renteria said.
With a strong performance at regionals, these students now set their sights on the state competition, ready to take their skills to the next level.
