Contributed photos Hailey Edwards, Jon Gardunio, and Kenedie Crowther, with the help of several Sanford FCCLA chapter members, work on baby blankets at a chapter service workday. Cash Caldon and Parker Vannoy promote Sanford FCCLA at a basketball game.   Sanford FCCLA members proudly display the baby blankets they sewed.

SANFORD — Family, Career, and Community Leaders of America (FCCLA) is a nonprofit national career and technical student organization. According to fcclainc.org, FCCLA offers opportunities for young men and young women to pursue careers that support families. FCCLA’s mission is to promote personal growth and leadership development through family and consumer sciences education.

By focusing on the multiple roles of family members, wage earners, and community leaders, members develop skills for life through character development, creative and critical thinking, interpersonal communication, practical knowledge, and career preparation.

The San Luis Valley has two chapters — Sanford and Centauri. Both schools’ chapters perform well yearly. However, the last two years have been difficult due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

This year, Sanford FCCLA competed at the state competition April 14-16 in Denver.

It was the first competition that Sanford has attended in the past two years.

“We are excited to be back this year! Our students have been working hard since the beginning of the school year,” Sanford FCCLA officials stated.

Sanford FCLA has 33 members and 28 competed at the state competition. If students win at state, they advance to Nationals, which will be held June 27 through July 3 in San Diego, Calif.

Sanford FCCLA has performed a plethora of community service projects. They have studied, learned, and taught about the negatives of vaping. They have studied, learned, and taught about how to be safe from germs. They have participated in car-road safety, providing fire alarms to community families, using communication to help fight suicide, designing nutritional plans for athletes, just to name a few.

“Our chapter service projects were making baby blankets for our local hospital and sewing fleece blankets and pillowcases for foster children. We made 65 baby blankets total and 18 fleece blankets and matching pillowcases total. The hope is that our efforts changed the lives of others,” Sanford FCCLA officials stated.

Sanford’s FCCLA chapter is eagerly at work for competitions. Under the direction of advisor, JoAnn Bagwell, the chapter is moving forward and making a change in the world.

Together we will join, engage, compete, attend, and lead in the world today and in the world to come. As Family, Career, and Community Leaders, each member is contributing to making the world a better place.

“Again, we are excited to be back and look forward to work, accomplishments, and fun in the future. FCCLA’s motto is ‘Toward New Horizons.’ As a chapter, we are working toward new horizons daily. Way to go Sanford FCCLA,” Sanford FCCLA officials stated.