Cassidy June, an incoming senior at Milford High, competed against high school students from across the country and brought home a title in the hospitality and tourism section at national FCCLA.
“In the hospitality and tourism event, you start off by creating a fake business and then making a portfolio addressing important aspects for the business,” June said. “For my project, I chose to do mine on a hotel. For this hotel, I looked deeper into important aspects going into a hotel like figuring out rules, customer service and knowing what each customer needs.”
Due to COVID restrictions, FCCLA Nationals were a hybrid competition that consisted of some competitors in person and others online. June, unfortunately, was one of the competitors that had to compete from home.
“There were only three people from the state of Nebraska that actually got to go to the in person nationals event, and I know that most of them were national officers,” June said. “This is the second year in a row that FCCLA nationals has been hosted online by the Executive National Council, and they once again did a fantastic job. You were able to just log on to a website where you could go to presentations in lobbies or other live streams.”
June said that presenting virtually gave a different set of challenges compared to the in person style.
“Presenting was definitely a different experience,” June said. “Instead of giving your presentation up on the stage, you get to record your presentation before hand. I also had to make a really long PDF of my portfolio for the judges.”
June remembers where she was when she learned that she had won.
“I first remember hearing a few days before that I had made it into the final three people for my event, which means in normal years, I would’ve been able to walk on the stage,” June said. “I also remember when it was announced that I won. I was at home babysitting my brother while my parents were attending my cousin’s ball game. I was so shocked and excited that when I won I called my parents and grandparents to let them know. They were also very excited for me.”
Mallory Gregory, FCCLA and Family and Consumer Science instructor at Milford High, said she wasn’t surprised that June won.
“Cassidy is a smart girl and she worked really hard on this project,” Gregory said. “I remember one night she ended up coming in and working on her project at 10 p.m. once she got done with play practice. We are very proud of her.”
After many years of doing FCCLA and Students Taking Action with Recognition, June recommends students try FCCLA.
“I started out doing STAR in 7th grade, and I never thought I would get where I am today,” June said. “FCCLA has been so important to me. It’s a great way to find out there’s more to do for not only you, but for your school and community. It’s about helping people. FCCLA is a great way to kick start your adult life.”
