Upperman High School’s Kallee Chambers finished eighth place in the entrepreneurship competition at FCCLA’s National Conference.
Chambers assembled and presented a business plan for a flower shop, which included a description. advertising plans, and hiring plans. Chambers said placing as high as she did was a pleasant surprise.
“I just wasn’t expecting to get top ten,” Chambers said. “I mean, competing against all of these people, a lot of people put a lot of effort into these projects. A lot of time.”
Chambers, a rising junior, said competing at the national level has helped improve her confidence. She said her partner was unable to present with her, forcing her to learn independence skills too.
Upperman FCCLA Advisor Taylor Key said Chambers was been working on her project since the fall. It placed top two in the Tennessee FCCLA Leadership Competition in April, which warranted the national conference invite to Orlando.
Key said Upperman’s Emma Williams and Sidney Wiley were also invited to nationals. They competed in the Promote and Publicize FCCLA category, which contains community outreach projects meant to spread awareness about FCCLA.
Key said the national conference is a unique chance for students to meet and compete with 10,000 students from across the country. She said it can show how much FCCLA can impact students.
“They’re not just meeting other people and learning communication skills, they’re also learning about themselves because they’re having to travel,” Key said. “They’re having to do different things on their own, and I think it’s just a great opportunity for them.”
Key said the students at nationals are not just representing Upperman, but Tennessee as a whole. She said the students worked very hard to earn an invitation, which can be life changing.
“They’re learning so many great things,” Key said. “Public speaking, just general knowledge about how to interact with other people, how to carry themselves, how to dress professionally. All of these things are so important for whatever they want to do with their future, whether it be the workforce or college or even in their future families.”
