The event was held at the DoubleTree Cedar Rapids in March with students from across Iowa in attendance.

Representing Manson Northwest Webster were Shelby Swartzendruber, Carson Widlund, Maddie Adams and Laney Peterson.

Swartzendruber, a senior, and Widlund, a junior, placed first in the Level 3 “Pride of Iowa” competition with their “Taco Pizza” recipe.

Adams, a senior, and Peterson, a sophomore, competed in the cake decorating contest.

-Submitted photo
Manson Northwest Webster High School students Shelby Swartzendruber, Maddie Adams, Carson Widlund and Laney Peterson represented the school at the recent FCCLA State Leadership Conference in Cedar Rapids.

“I am beyond proud of these students and what they have achieved in my short time teaching at Manson Northwest Webster,” said family and consumer science teacher Jessica Lavicky. “It’s that moment when a student takes the learning and applies it to something in their life and the light bulb turns on. It’s the ‘ah ha’ moment.

“I’ve had all four of these students in a culinary class at some point of time in the past two years. What makes me proud is that each student took what they had learned from class and they stepped out of their comfort zone and they competed in front of other peers, schools and judges.

“At this stage in their life, this is a make or break time when it comes to presenting in front of people. If your presentation flops miserably, chances are you won’t ever want to stand up in front of people again. If that experience goes well, then it’s an adrenaline high that you want to keep going. For these four students, they kept going and each time they continue to improve.”

The State Leadership Conference is the pinnacle event of the year in Iowa FCCLA. Attendees from each District Leadership Conference advance to compete for recognition in START Events, attend leadership sessions and network with other youth leaders.

FCCLA is the only youth organization with family as its central focus. Youth are empowered to address personal, work and societal issues through individual and chapter projects.

“This was our first year (my first year) of having students compete in events at the state level. This year’s FCCLA theme was ‘Shine a Light’ on mental health and do something incREDible,” Lavicky said. “Laney designed her cake in the shape of the sun saying, ‘the sun shines a light on everything and everyone.’ This is Peterson’s third time competing this year in an event. Maddie’s cake had a traditional round cake with fireworks painted on the top for the decorations. Adams chose fireworks, ‘because they light up the sky.’ This is Adams’ first time competing, and she hopes to get in more competitions in the near future.

“Carson and Shelby competed in the team event ‘Pride of Iowa’ where they had to make a food item that contained at least one ingredient from Iowa or why it is important or represents Iowa. The team came up with ‘Taco Pizza,’ since it originated at Happy Joe’s Pizza Parlor in Davenport, Iowa.”

Involvement in FCCLA offers members the opportunity to expand their leadership potential and develop skills for life necessary in the home and workplace, such as planning, goal setting, problem solving, decision making and interpersonal communication.

“I bring to my classroom 20 years of industry experience,” Lavicky said. “Seeing students take what they learned in my class and have that light bulb moment is what does it for me. That’s why I love teaching.”