On November 29th, West Monona Family Career and Community Leaders of America (FCCLA) hosted the Northwest Iowa District 1 FCCLA meeting with 329 people present. President Jalyn Struble opened the meeting with 15 surrounding schools in attendance. Middle school district officers Bridgette Hupke and Ryleigh Ruth presented colors in the flag ceremony. Heather Nelson was the guest speaker who gave an amazing presentation to all of the members. She explained her battle with cancer as well as her son’s, Brandon Stanton. All of the students were moved by this presentation and motivated to make a difference. At the close of her presentation, Heather Nelson gifted the West Monona Chapter a generous donation to help them continue their efforts of making fleece blankets for children fighting cancer.
After the guest speaker, the district officers candidates were introduced. Sydney Carrigan and Chole Broer ran for high school office. Breckin Anderson and Bridget Hupke were candidates for the middle school offices. The District Secretary, Emma Jensen explained the voting process and asked each candidate two FCCLA questions. The West Monona candidates answered with intelligence and poise, and each gave a one-minute speech about FCCLA to the entire district. Jensen then conducted a roll-call and dismissed everyone for lunch. Afterward, members from each school set up an activities table in the gym.
West Monona members hosting activities, Mackenzie Nath and Ellie Burgess held a stress ball crafting station. Morgan Warner and Haylie Hewitt did a table on different colored cancer ribbons. Emma Jensen had a station so members could color different shoes, in line with the state theme “Walk in Their Shoes”. During the activity portion of the meeting, schools brought fleece tie blanket materials and constructed them in the middle of the gym. West Monona High School and Middle School made four blankets each to be donated to the Children’s Cancer Connection. In total, West Monona collected 25 blankets from the meeting.
After the activity portion, state officers, Jalyn Struble and Emma Jensen gave a report on the work being done at the state level. Ribbons were awarded and to end the meeting the results of the district officer election were announced. Bridget Hupke received Middle School Vice-President. Breckin Anderson received the position of Middle School President. Sydney Carrigan received High School Treasurer and Chole Broer received High School Vice-President. All of the members represented West Monona admirably. Past district officers Jalyn Struble and Emma Jesen conducted the installation ceremony and the new officers closed the meeting. During the eventful day, members competed in Iowa Events, including a grilled cheese challenge, deviled egg challenge, shoe design, and poster design.
West Monona had 22 members compete, winners were Level 3 Emma Jensen received 1st place, Chloe Broer 1st place in Level 2, and Kierra Jones, 1st place Level 1 in Poster design. In shoe design, Maggie Lage, 1st place Level 3, Ashley Pittet 1st place, Jessica Lyons 2nd place and Marlee Pittet 3rd place Level 2, and Charlee Archer 3rd place in Level 1. Each member received ribbons. In level 1, Pacyn Faith and Julienne Gaukel placed 2nd and in Level 3, Addison Halverson and Katilyn Ruffcorn placed 2nd in the grilled cheese challenge. In the Deviled Egg Challenge Joslin Gaukel and Sophia Woodward placed 1st in Level 3.
A big thank you to our volunteer judges who helped score each Iowa Event: Sherry Vogel, Iowa FCCLA State Executive Director, Elizabeth Sturgill, Jewel Gibler, Amber Griffith, and Angela Lyons. A Special Thank you to Makayla Corzette, Brianna DeKok and Marlee Pittet for helping with the blankets, David Gaukel for driving to Sioux City and bringing our meal from Jimmy John’s, Donna Messerole, Joe Monahan for helping with the building setup and cleanup.