Have you heard about FCCLA? If not, just ask 8th-grade students Emma Powell and Myla Prezleski!
FCCLA stands for Family, Career, and Community Leaders of America, and it’s all about helping students grow as leaders in their families, careers, and communities. At Culpeper Middle School (CMS), students have the opportunity to get involved in FCCLA, where they explore personal development, community service, and career skills through exciting hands-on projects and monthly meetings.
FCCLA is especially great for students who’ve taken Family and Consumer Sciences (FCS) classes, offering them even more ways to expand their learning and leadership abilities. The chapter isn’t just for current students, though—it’s open to rising 6th graders, staff, and the broader Culpeper community, creating a strong, supportive environment for everyone involved. Don’t forget to follow the CMS FCCLA chapter on Instagram at culpepermiddleschool_fccla to stay up-to-date with all the awesome things we’re doing!
Emma Powell, who is in her third year with FCCLA, is currently serving as the President of the Culpeper Middle School chapter. Her best friend, Myla Prezleski, joined this year, and both are working hard on a STAR event for FCCLA called Promote and Publicize FCCLA.
Emma shares, "I enjoy all of the friendships I’ve made on my FCCLA journey, and I also love the community aspect." Myla, who is just starting her FCCLA adventure, agrees: “FCCLA is such a great opportunity and it’s so much fun. Joining FCCLA has definitely been one of the best decisions I’ve made in middle school. Even though it’s my first year, I’ve already learned so much and enjoy everything about it.”
FCCLA is a national student organization with more than 160,000 members, and it’s all about developing leadership, career preparation, and community service skills that help students make a positive impact. At CMS, FCCLA students get to apply what they’ve learned in their FCS classes while also working on projects that will help them grow and lead in the future.
Through FCCLA, students like Emma and Myla are becoming leaders in their families, careers, and communities—ready to make a lasting impact.
Emma and Myla’s journey with FCCLA shows just how important it is to build connections among students, teachers, and the wider community. As Emma says, “We’re so incredibly grateful for our adviser. We wouldn’t be able to do all of this without her.”
