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Jax State FCCLA Wins Big at National Conference

by Brett Buckner

Jacksonville, AL (08/01/2025) — Jax State's Family Career and Community Leaders of America (FCCLA) is riding a national winning streak. For the third consecutive year, students within the university's chapter have claimed titles for projects presented at the FCCLA's national conference, which was held this year in Orlando from July 4 to 10.

"This was probably the highest attended conference Jax State students have participated in over the past several years," said Kimberly Mitchell, faculty advisor and program chair of Family and Consumer Sciences (FCS). "We had over 10,000 FCCLA members from across the nation," she said. "It gives my students a chance to not only compete on a national level, but to see what other students, especially those education majors, to see what they're going to be doing when they start teaching. It gives them an inside track on the process."

This year's winners were Emma Dalton, a 21-year-old incoming senior from Geraldine majoring in Consumer Science Education, who won first place for her Fashion Construction project, and Dulce Diaz, a 19-year-old incoming sophomore majoring in Family and Consumer Sciences Education from Albertville, who won second for her Say Yes to FCS project.

"They're both just phenomenal," Mitchell said. "This will really give them insight into what to expect as teachers. It's an invaluable experience.

This was Dalton's first year in FCCLA. "I've absolutely loved it," she said. "I went into the conferences not knowing what to expect, so I was kinda nervous, but I absolutely loved the atmosphere. It was so beneficial."

For her project, Dalton created an evening gown. "I chose fashion construction because my sewing skills were a little bit rough, and I wanted to learn. The fall semester of this past year was my first time ever sewing anything, and I wanted to get good at it. I was very proud [to win first place] because I put a lot of work into making that dress."

Having been a member throughout high school, where she attended multiple national conferences, and now at Jax State, Dulce Diaz is an FCCLA veteran. But this year was different. "As a secondary student, it was more about networking with the younger students," she said. "You feel like a leader instead of a follower. It was a full-circle moment."

Diaz's project focused on promoting FCS education in a way that would engage potential members. I was a little nervous just going up on stage," she said of accepting her award for second place. "I'm not going to lie. I was like, 'What if I fall?' It was all kind of unreal."

The FCCLA is the career technical student organization for Family and Consumer Sciences that is traditionally available for high school and middle school students. Jax State is the only university in the state to have a post-secondary chapter. "It allows our students to take what they're learning in their content area and actually apply it through the competitive events that FCCLA offers," Mitchell said.

During this run of national titles, Mitchell gives full credit to her students. "It's just their willingness to continue doing something that they know that matters," she said. "It's also been a great recruiting tool for our program and university as well.

About Jacksonville State University: Founded in 1883 as a state teachers' college, Jacksonville State University has grown from humble beginnings into the Alabama regional university with the highest percentage of accredited programs. Located in the Appalachian foothills midway between Birmingham and Atlanta, Jax State offers more than 150 courses of study, including over 40 online programs, at the undergraduate and graduate levels. To learn more, visit www.jsu.edu, call 1-800-231-JAX1, or e-mail jaxfacts@jsu.edu.

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