Virginia Beach, VA. – Frank W. Cox High School rising sophomore Brittany Carroll was recently awarded one of nine gold medals given to deserving students throughout the country’s Southern Region at the annual Family, Career, and Community Leaders of America’s (FCCLA) National Leadership Conference held July 5 -11 in San Antonio, TX. Carroll attended the conference with the school’s FCCLA Advisor Raena Weimer, Virginia Beach Technical Center Advisor Theresa Cole, and Tech Center seniors Heather Davis and Shacara Lawrence. Both Davis and Lawrence received silver medals at the conference.

The FCCLA Leadership Development program focuses on teaching students networking, professionalism, and strategic planning, as well as advancing basic leadership knowledge and skills. Carroll served as the school’s freshman representative and was given the opportunity to participate in the FCCLA Leadership Academy, which addressed skills in Public Speaking, Leadership, ‘Secrets to Social Media Success’, and ‘How to Ace Your Interview’.

Carroll also competed in the Career Investigation S.T.A.R. event, presenting a 35-page portfolio outlining a personal self-assessment, evidence of career research, samples of school work, experiences with business and industry organizations, and the career’s relationship to Family and Consumer Science Education.

According to fcclainc.org, FCCLA: The Ultimate Leadership Experience is a dynamic and effective national student organization that helps young men and women become leaders and address important personal, family, work, and societal issues through Family and Consumer Sciences Education. FCCLA has 200,000 members and more than 5,500 chapters from 50 state associations including: the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands. Furthermore, the organization has involved more than ten million youth since its founding in 1945.

Family, Career and Community Leaders of America, as evidenced on fcclainc.org, is unique among youth organizations because its programs are planned and run by its members. It is the only career and technical in-school student organization with the family as its central focus. Participation in national programs and chapter activities help members become strong leaders in their families, careers, and communities.