state, while one team made it to nationals.” The chapter also brought home the Bronze State Superior Chapter honor. To obtain this award, their chapter volunteered a number of hours in their community, attended region meetings, as well as meet eligibility requirements to compete at regional competitions.
From President to Advisor. Lathrop High’s first FCCLA Chapter. “I had no idea what we were doing, but I wouldn’t trade the experience for the world,” recalled Mrs. Selga, the Life Management teacher and FCCLA advisor at Lathrop High School. FCCLA, or Family, Career, and Community Leaders of America, is an intra-curricular organization where students may compete in regional, state, and national competitions in specializations such as sewing, cooking, storytelling, and other opportunities that support
family and consumer science- was able to compete in sewing,” related careers. said Mrs. Selga. “My advisor, Betty Keller, encouraged me Linda Selga’s FCCLA journey to compete at the regional, began when she was a student at state, and national level as part St. Mary’s High School, where of the organization.” After she became involved in the transferring to Edison High organization formerly known School as a junior, Mrs. Selga as the Future Homemakers of gained an officer position in America/Home Economics the high school’s FHA/HERO Related Occupations (FHA/ organization that year. The HERO) founded in 1945. following year, as a senior, she Mrs. Selga began sewing at obtained a presidential office a very young age, and didn’t position in her chapter. think very much of it until Today, Mrs. Selga initiated she entered high school and Lathrop High School’s first learned of opportunities where FCCLA chapter. she could apply and advance her skill. “When I first joined the “All of the other advisors in the program, I didn’t know that I District really encouraged me
to initiate FCCLA at Lathrop High, and it was one of the best decisions I’ve ever made,” she expressed. When organizing the chapter, many doubts ran through her head. With only a few students signing up for her class, it was difficult to establish what she and her former FCCLA co-advisor and life skills teacher, Mrs. Armstrong, envisioned. “Mrs. Lee at Sierra High School won so many awards, and I was driven by that,” shared Mrs. Selga. “I wanted our organization to build off of the high standard of FCCLA established within MUSD.”
different perspectives. The first, she reminisced, as her senior self at Edison High School. “I have the greatest respect for my [former] FCCLA adviser. I will never forget being a student on our bus rides to Palo Alto for regional meetings, and how much fun I had with my FCCLA friends.” She continued, “There is an abundance of work, time, and energy that you have to Along with her team’s honors, spend, and I give [Ms. Keller] Mrs. Selga received the State props for dealing with us.” Silver Outstanding Advisor Award by exemplifying great Mrs. Selga then spoke about achievement in helping her perspective as a teacher/ develop Lathrop High’s adviser, and how fulfilling it FCCLA organization and was is to see her students excited thoughtfully recognized during in and out of the classroom. their virtual state meeting “Seeing my students on stage earlier this month. This to receive their medals is the award was given to advisors best feeling. I know that I’m throughout California, and making an impact.” Mrs. Selga received second place in the state. She stated, “I was really excited about this award. Last year when we went to state, we didn’t get any accolades, but that encouraged a few of my students to build the program further.” Mrs. Selga emphasized that although she is proud of her students for earning awards and recognition for their hard work, her primary goal is for students to develop and appreciate the life skills they are learning.
As a developing organization at Lathrop High School, Mrs. Selga and her FCCLA students have made their mark by competing in several competitions. “This year, we had six competitors,” she elaborated. “Every single When asked how her students student placed at regional and inspired her, she shared two
