Loyal’s Teschner named FCCLA state officer
By Valorie Brecht The Family, Career and Community Leaders of America (FCCLA) 2024-25 officer team was inducted at the State Leadership Conference last month, including Noelle Teschner of Loyal High School being inducted as the new state vice president of career development, a Loyal School District first.
“I was and am very excited for this next year,” wrote Teschner in an email. “There is a lot of nerves as this will be a big role, but I know I have a good support system behind me. It’s an understatement to say I’m thrilled.”
As an FCCLA state officer, Teschner will advocate for family and consumer sciences education, and plan and promote leadership academies, regional competitions and the state leadership conference. As the vice president of career development specifically, Teschner will promote academic and career planning, as well as chapter membership and activities.
“She will promote activities that will stimulate interest in family and consumer sciences careers and related occupations and act as a link between the state association and alumni. She will also promote the national program, Career Connection,” wrote Teschner’s advisor, Donna Odeen, in an email.
Teschner, a junior, moved to Loyal after her seventh grade year.
“We didn’t have FCCLA in middle school when she first came but she did help with several projects… We do have middle school membership now, partly because of Noelle!” wrote Odeen.
Once Teschner got into high school, she decided to join FCCLA.
“At first, I thought FCCLA was just another school club. I joined because my sisters did it, so I guess I was just following in their footsteps – but later I realized I enjoyed helping the community and volunteering,” wrote Teschner in an email.
She said it has been fun to spend time with friends outside of school while serving together. She and the other chapter members have assisted the community in various ways such as helping with the community Easter egg hunt, volunteering at the American Legion and selling ice cream to fellow students once a month, with the proceeds going to a local charity. In addition, Teschner has served as the Loyal chapter’s reporter for two years, helping with bulletin boards, issuing notices about upcoming events, reminding her advisor to post about the chapter on Facebook and, in
Please see FCCLA, page 10
Noelle Teschner FCCLA,
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general, helping out wherever needed.
Teschner has attended several leadership conferences, including the state conference in Wisconsin Dells the past three years and the national conference in Denver, Colo., last year. Conferences provide FCCLAmembers the chance to network with members and advisors from across the nation, attend leadership workshops, explore career pathways, learn from industry experts and participate in competitive events.
Teschner has competed in the repurpose and redesign STAR (Students Taking Action with Recognition) event since freshman year. She and fellow FCCLAmember Parker Smith worked together to make a few pieces of furniture, such as two tires stacked on each other to make a chair, another chair with some old wood framed chairs and pieces of tire used for the back and the seat, and a chandelier out of bike rims and old utensils. Smith and Teschner advanced through the regional and state STAR competitions to attend nationals last year, and will return to nationals this year.
“The STAR event competition has helped me come out of my shell. Learning how to properly speak in front of people I don’t know and being forced into those positions has really helped me get over the fear. Also just volunteering in the community, talking with people in the community and getting to know people. Over time I think I have really found my confidence through FCCLA,” said Teschner.
In addition to her growing personally, seeing how state FCCLA leaders can have influence on a greater scale prompted Teschner to take a bigger step in her FCCLA journey.
“I decided to run for state office because I wanted to expand my network and gain more leadership. I also just wanted to show classmates and other peers that it doesn’t matter where you come from, you can always play a bigger role. FCCLA is a great organization to help with future endeavors; therefore, I knew this would be beneficial for my future self,” Teschner wrote.
Once she decided to go for it, there was an involved application process. Teschner first had to complete an application online, which was due Jan. 12. She then had to take an FCCLA knowledge test online, which included questions on the eight purposes of FCCLA, the national programs of FCCLA and history of the organization. On Feb. 26, she completed a 30-minute virtual interview with six people, including the state FCCLA leader, former state officers and UW family and consumer sciences (FCS) department chairs. This included a three-minute speech on why she felt qualified to be a state FCCLA officer.
Please see FCCLA, page 11
At the Family, Career and Community Leaders of America State Conference in Wisconsin Dells in April, (above left, l-r) Noelle Teschner, Hope Peroshek and Jordynn Corder of Loyal High School received awards for their stellar service as Region 2 Regional Representatives (there are seven regions in Wisconsin). Also at the conference, students competed in the STAR (Students Taking Action with Recognition) events, with three from Loyal advancing to nationals (above right, l-r): Maleia Smith in the early childhood education, and Teschner and Parker Smith in repurpose and redesign. The national conference will be June 29-July 3 in Seattle, Wash.
CONTRIBUTED PHOTOS
Noelle Teschner received the Outstanding Chapter Member award at the state conference for her contributions to her local chapter of Family, Career and Community Leaders of America.
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Finally, she attended the state conference April 8-10, during which she presented her speech to the voting delegates at the conference. She then visited with delegates from each of the seven state regions in a round-robin style, answering questions about herself and FCCLA. On the second day of the conference, she met with the state advisor, Julie Anderson, who had an envelope for her to open, announcing which office she had been elected to. Teschner and the other seven officers were installed that evening.
As a state officer, Teschner will be involved in event planning. She will also travel to meet with other officers and FCCLA members. One major upcoming event is the national conference in Seattle, Wash., from June 29-July 3. Odeen is excited to see where this journey takes Teschner.
“I’m really so proud of her! Noelle has been so valuable, especially this past year, in helping me keep focused and helping decide just where our chapter is heading. She’s worked hard not just for our organization, but any of the multiple other obligations she has. I’m glad enough young people realize the value they have in dedicating time and talents for the benefit of others, and like I said, so, so proud of what she’s accomplished so far.
“I’ve had several conversations with Mrs. Anderson, FCS/FCCLAconsultant from the DPI, and Noelle’s officer team is in a position to make significant contributions to our organization, both this year and especially moving forward.
“I feel quite honored to be given this chance to serve with an amazing young lady from our school, and a group of dedicated, motivated energetic young people and advisors from around Wisconsin!”
Teschner, for her part, is also excited for this new venture.
“I am looking forward to becoming close with my offi cer friends, also just so excited to represent Loyal and the state of Wisconsin,” she said.
More about FCCLA FCCLAis a student organization unique among youth organizations in that its programs are planned and run by members. It is the only career and technical in-school student organization with the family as its central focus, and it is directly aligned to family and consumer sciences education. The mission of FCCLA to promote personal growth and leadership development through family and consumer sciences education. Focusing on the multiple roles of family member, wage earner and community leader, members develop skills for life through character development, creative and critical thinking, interpersonal communication, practical knowledge and career preparation.
Several students from Loyal earned awards in the STAR (Students Taking Action with Recognition) events at the Family, Career and Community Leaders of America State Conference in Wisconsin Dells in April. Award winners were as follows (l-r): Jillian Rueth, gold, career investigation; Maleia Smith, gold, early childhood education; Noelle Teschner and Parker Smith, gold, repurpose and redesign; Autumn Zvolena and Cain Toufar, silver, repurpose and redesign; Bryce Deegan and Summer Smith, silver, interior design; Jordynn Corder, silver, job interview; Hope Peroshek, silver, career investigation; and Tryn Scheel, gold, job interview. Teschner, Parker Smith and Maleia Smith will advance to nationals in their events.
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Ring the bells
The Spencer High School advanced and intermediate handbell choirs filled up the community room with beautiful sound when they performed at the Spencer Library on April 25. Shown above (l-r) are Brooklyn Baumgarten, Aubrey Loveland, Sienna Sallach, Saydi Olson (also the group’s director), Aaliyah Bezenyei and Carmen Krause. Sallach used a special technique involving playing two bells with each hand. Below are (l-r) Kat Hernandez, Tahneya Anderson, AJ Mlsna and Loveland. Song selections included “Ring Victoriously,” “All Through the Night,” “Sleeping Beauty Waltz,” “March Militaire,” “Gabriel’s Oboe,” “Joy to the World,” “Danny Boy” and “Joyful Rhythm.”
VALORIE BRECHT/STAFF PHOTO
