Forest Area School District continues to shine at the 2025 FCCLA Pennsylvania State Leadership Conference. Advisors, administrators, and students alike all received recognition for outstanding performances at this year’s convention.
The students were able to participate in the annual State Leadership Conference from March 31st thru April 2nd, 2025 at Seven Springs Resort. The eight East Forest FCCLA Chapter members attended several workshops, focusing on leadership, communication, nutrition, and mental health, just to name a few topics. They also competed in their respective STAR Events (Students Taking Action with Recognition) Competitions. Lauren Geraci, Nick Geraci, and Jonah Glass competed in Level 3 National Programs in Action and received a Gold Medal. Hailee Oliver and Addyson Neill competed in Level 2 National Programs in Action and received a Gold Medal. Vera Heferle competed in Level 2 Chapter Service Project Portfolio and received a Gold Medal. Mathew Wonderling and Alexandrea Carroll competed in Level 2 Chapter Service Project Display and received a Gold Medal. All of these students earned National Team Honors. They will represent Pennsylvania on the national level and compete this Summer at the National FCCLA Leadership Conference in Orlando, Florida. The East Forest FCCLA Chapter was also recognized as and received the Outstanding Chapter Award- Silver level, the Chapter Caring Award and the National Program in Action Community Service Award. The adult awards went to: Ms. Kristen Glass: Local Chapter Service Award; and Mrs. Shenessa Rossetti, Adviser of the Year Award. Mrs. Amanda Hetrick, District Superintendent, was honored with the Chapter Service Administrator Award for her efforts and support of both the East Forest and West Forest Chapters. The East Forest FCCLA Chapter would like to thank all of those in the local community who have and continue to support their efforts to make our communities a better place.
The West Forest Chapter of FCCLA had six students who qualified to compete at this year’s state level of competition in the STAR events. Junior Esther Forker competed in Career Investigation, Level 3, and took home a silver medal and an invitation to nationals in Orlando. Sophomores Bobby Payne and Alison McLaughlin competed in the Entrepreneurship category, Level 2, in which they designed a landscape business. They were awarded gold medals and received an invitation to the national conference as well. This duo was also elected to represent FCCLA in Pennsylvania as State Officers. Sophomore Alanah Wagner competed in the category of Teach or Train, Level 2. She placed with a silver medal and will go to the national conference. The last team to compete were freshmen students and silver medalists, Kale Morrison and Kiarra Wagner. Their category was Focus on Children, Level 2, and they taught counting skills to 4th graders at West Forest Elementary. Kale was also selected to serve as an FCCLA Northwest Regional Officer. All students received medals and four will continue on to compete at the national level in Orlando this July. Macalie Hoffmann and Hazel Hilyer also attended, as current State Officers. They were involved with the planning and organization before the conference and were part of the team that ran the meetings and introduced all of the sessions for the other students. Macalie is also an FCCLA National Officer Candidate. West Forest advisors Mrs. Lori Beatty and Ms. Sarah Huth would also like to thank everyone for all the help and support of their organization.
Shown in the picture are: front, left to right: Shenessa Rossetti, Hazel Hilyer, Macalie Hoffmann, Lauren Geraci and Sarah Huth; middle, left to right: Kristen Glass, Jonah Glass, Alison McLaughlin, Bobby Payne, Hailee Oliver, Esther Forker and Lori Beatty; back row, left to right: Addyson Neill, Nick Geraci, Vera Heferle, Alexandrea Carroll, Mathew Wonderling and Kale Morrison.