Conference Highlights Service, Skill‑Building, Student Community

By JOSHUA YOUNGQUIST
ONEONTA

SUNY Oneonta once again served as the home base for New York State FCCLA’s Summer Leadership Conference, a multi‑day gathering that blended hands-on workshops, service learning and the kind of student camaraderie the organization has become known for. For FCCLA—Family, Career and Community Leaders of America—the choice of venue was no coincidence. Oneonta is one of only three colleges in New York offering a Family and Consumer Sciences Education program, a natural fit for an organization built around family, leadership, and applied life skills.

According to New York State FCCLA Vice President of Community Service Ava Vicari, SUNY Oneonta’s long‑standing partnership with the organization has made it an ideal host for more than a decade. The college provides dorm space, workshop rooms, meeting areas and access to the Red Dragon Food Pantry—all essential for a conference that brings together students from across the state.

“They’ve always accommodated us wonderfully,” Vicari said, noting that the campus’ affordability and alignment with FCCLA’s core values make it a reliable home for summer programming.

This year’s conference centered on Vicari’s outreach initiative, “Tied for a Purpose,” a project designed to give students a tangible way to support peers in need. Members across New York donated shirts, which were then repurposed into reusable tote bags during Vicari’s workshop sessions. In total, students created 51 bags, each filled with hygiene items such as razors, shampoo, conditioner, toothpaste, deodorant and feminine products. Every bag also included a handwritten note of encouragement—a personal touch Vicari felt was essential.

“I wanted each student to feel they had a lasting impact,” she said. “Not just paying for toothbrushes or deodorant, but creating something meaningful.”

The project wasn’t without its challenges. Reaching students ahead of the conference required coordinated communication between advisors and social media outreach. Choosing a donation site also took careful thought, but the Red Dragon Food Pantry ultimately proved the perfect match.

“Helping college students in need sounded like a great way to give back,” Vicari said.

The only lingering concern was whether enough supplies would come in, but the statewide delegation delivered, allowing the council to meet—and exceed—its goals.

Beyond service, the conference offered students opportunities to develop leadership and career‑ready skills through workshops and STAR events—“Students Taking Action with Recognition.” Participants explored culinary arts, baking and pastry, fashion design, public speaking, and career investigation. These experiences, Vicari explained, help students learn responsibility, communication, and confidence.

“Most of all, students gain a second family,” she said. “FCCLA is my home away from home.”

That sense of belonging was visible throughout the conference. Vicari described how students who arrived as strangers quickly formed connections—cheering for one another during “Minute‑to‑Win‑It” games, working together to fix a fallen volleyball net and supporting peers during public speaking workshops.

“Everyone was just so kind to one another,” she said. “It’s rare to see that in adolescents.”

For Vicari, the impact of Tied for a Purpose extends beyond the bags themselves. She believes projects like this show students that they are capable of meaningful change.

“It’s one thing knowing it can be done, but another seeing someone just like you doing it,” she said. “It instills pride in making someone else’s bad day better.”

As she continues her term as vice president of community service, Vicari is already planning her next statewide initiative: “Past. Present. Future.” The project will challenge each New York chapter to complete acts of service across three categories, encouraging students to think broadly about how they can support their communities.

“I’m excited to see what else our powerhouse council can do,” Vicari said.

FCCLA’s summer conference at SUNY Oneonta showcased exactly what the organization strives to cultivate—leadership, compassion, creativity and a community of young people determined to make a difference. With projects like Tied for a Purpose and the momentum of a dedicated state council, New York’s FCCLA members are poised to continue that work throughout the year.