15 Rockland students from the Family Career and Community Leaders of America (FCCLA) program attended the 2026 FCCLA State Conference in March. With a focus on Family and Consumer Sciences, FCCLA helps students develop skills for life, such as planning, goal setting, problem solving, decision making, and interpersonal communication.

11 students participated in a “STAR Competition”, an event where members compete at the regional, state, and national levels to show proficiency in various topics from culinary arts and fashion design to personal finance and teaching strategies.

Rockland was represented in the competitions involving culinary arts, baking and pastry, cake decorating, and thematic table setting. Some competitions were team efforts, while others were done individually. Rockland students represented the district incredibly; taking silver and gold in the culinary arts competition and in the baking and pastry competition, silver in the cake decorating competition, and bronze in the thematic table setting competition. 

But it wasn’t all about bringing home an award. Students also got to enjoy a presentation from keynote speaker John Beede, leadership workshops, social events, and a banquet dinner. 

“The team building workshops stuck out the most to me because it helped break people out of their shell,” ninth grade student McKenzie Lundeen said. “We were talking to new people and meeting new people.”

These opportunities are fundamental to student growth, and it shows through their hard work and dedication. In the future, FCCLA students will have the chance to attend the Summer Leadership Conference and the Fall Leadership Conference in addition to the State Conference that will be held in Syracuse next year, representing Rockland and learning even more along the way.