Moroni girl’s dedication earns her FCCLA leadership jacket
Daniela Vazquez
Staff writer
1-19-2017
MORONI—A Moroni girl was awarded a special red blazer for going above and beyond in her efforts to inspire others to join the Family Career and Community Leaders of America (FCCLA).
Madison Walker, daughter of Dustin and Tabitha Walker of Moroni, is a North Sanpete Middle School (NSMS) eighth-grade student who received the Red Jacket award last month. According to the FCCLA, the jacket is a symbol that demonstrates true leadership skills.
“Anyone can buy one of these jackets,” she said. “I’ve always wanted one and was happy when I got one without having to pay the $100 or $200 that they cost.”
The National FCCLA awards two students with Red Jackets each month, but considering that the organization currently has over 160,000 kids, 3,000 of which are in Utah, earning a jacket requires true dedication.
NSMS English teacher Laura Tenney said Madison almost single-handedly recruited nearly half of the chapter members this school year.
Madison is currently working on a chapter website for her Students Taking Action with Recognition (STAR) event, an event she says is one of the most important aspects of being part of FCCLA.
Last summer Madison competed with her project Digital Stories for Change at the national STAR event and won the Bronze award.
“If you stick with (your FCCLA goals and projects), you’ll learn how to be a leader and also how to compete well,” she said. “It helps build confidence.”
Madison says she has always wanted to participate in FCCLA and joined as soon as she became eligible in seventh grade.
Last year she served as the chapter’s vice president, a seventh-grade only position. This year she is serving as the chapter secretary.
She says she enjoys being a part of the presidency because it has helped her in the communication arena, which in turn has helped her to define better ways to implement the principles of the foundation.
FCCLA is a nonprofit national career and technical student organization for youth in grades seven through 12 who are interested in Family and Consumer Sciences. The organization places emphasis on student leadership, service learning and competitive events.
