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| Beth Judy |
Ten officers represent the state level of Family, Career & Community Leaders of America, a national organization for high school students. Beth Judy, a senior at Southeastern High School, is one of them.
After applying to run for state office, taking a test on FCCLA knowledge, and passing an interview process, Judy gave a speech at last spring’s FCCLA regional meeting. She won the seat to represent Ohio’s southwest region. Ever since, her schedule has been packed with state meeting and events.
“The first thing we did was meet in May for boot camp. That’s when the 10 officers and advisors choose exactly which jobs they are going to do,” said Judy, who was named vice president of media communications. The boot camp also included exercises in public speaking, officer etiquette and parliamentary law.
In her public relations role, Judy creates press releases to send to all FCCLA chapters in the state. The chapters then customize the releases and submit them to their local media outlets to promote awareness of the organization.
Ever since boot camp, Judy has met almost monthly with her fellow state officers. In June, they spent three days in Columbus finalizing plans for FCCLA’s national leadership meeting and the state’s summer leadership camp, both of which took place in July. At the camp, Judy led workshops and team-building activities. She spent eight days in Orlando, Fla., for the national leadership meeting.
Judy was on the go again in September, when she traveled to Washington D.C. for the Ultimate State Officer Academy. She and other officers from around the country completed leadership training, learned about legislation, and met with legislators’ aides. Normally, the students would meet with the legislators, but they were busy with bailout sessions.
October saw Judy taking part in the state fall leadership camp. Another two days were set aside in December for a planning session for the state leadership conference, which will take place in April.
“We have to plan out speakers and workshops and STAR events, which stands for Students Taking Action for Recog-nition,” Judy explained. “Each state officer also must compete in a STAR event. I will be doing the Teach & Train event.”
As for why she has become so involved in FCCLA, Judy said, “We’re the only organization where family is the focus, and family means so much to me. It’s a great way to promote the importance of family.”
FCCLA also offers chances to hone leadership skills and make friends, she said.
Judy has been a member of FCCLA since she was a sophomore, when she served as sec-retary of South-eastern’s chapter. As a junior, she was the chapter’s vice president of programming. She has chaired several committees and participated in community projects, such as blood drives and the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society’s Pennies for Patients.
After graduation, Judy plans to major in education at Ashland University, Bowling Green State University or Wilmington College. She wants to become a teacher, preferably for grades pre-kindergarten through third grade.
