Anna Fiorito, Reporter
Photo by Anna Fiorito
Leadership at NCHS often takes shape outside the classroom, where students turn ideas into action and service. Whether hosting a food drive, organizing statewide events or competing on the national stage, FCCLA members are learning what it means to take initiative and create a long lasting impact.
For FCCLA advisor Kelly Zilly, the organization’s mission goes far beyond classroom lessons. “There’s a lot of professionalism involved,” she said. “Whether we’re organizing things in the community or making contacts at places like grocery stores where we’re hosting a food drive and arranging donations, it involves scheduling, making appointments and a lot of planning”.
Students don’t just plan events, but they learn how to take charge. “We also participate in many community activities, which require students to communicate effectively,” Ms. Zilly said. “The biggest piece is our state events. We compete in the spring at national competitions, and students need strong leadership skills to complete their projects.”
Ms. Zilly explained that these events push members to grow beyond the classroom. “These projects are done outside the classroom and require commitment, responsibility and the ability to present in front of industry professionals who serve as judges,” she said.
Senior Summer Campo, President of both the FCCLA chapter and the Connecticut State Student Board, has made leadership her mission. “As the Chapter President and the Connecticut State President, I see my role as building community, and making sure every member feels included and empowered” she said.
Summer oversees chapter projects, statewide STAR events and community programs such as Friendsgiving and the annual food drive. She explains that FCCLA has always been a place where she could combine creativity, service and leadership, which are all experiences that gave her confidence early on and inspired her to take on bigger roles.
Summer’s leadership philosophy centers on connection and collaboration. She explained that FCCLA stands out because it gives students real leadership experience that directly connects to life beyond high school, “You’re running events, managing teams, creating projects, building community partnerships and developing actual career skills,” she said.
FCCLA’s projects have made a visible difference in New Canaan. The club recently had a successful food drive that gathered more than 1,000 donated items for the local nonprofit Filling in the Blanks. “Students reached out to Acme, confirmed we could be there, and worked with the store to gather the items we were looking for” said Ms. Zilly. “They collected donations, counted everything, and brought it all to Filling in the Blanks. It was incredibly rewarding to see the impact we could make.”
Summer described it as one of her proudest moments. “It was such a good example of how our chapter works together,” she said. “I got to see members step up and lead different parts of the event when we weren’t available, which made me really proud as president”.
FCCLA offers more than 30 competitive categories ranging from fashion design and culinary arts to public speaking and child development. Students can win scholarships, earn recognition and gain experience in their fields of interest. “If students are passionate about one of these areas, FCCLA helps prepare them for college or the real world,” Ms. Zilly said.
FCCLA’s impact is clear: it teaches leadership through compassion and responsibility. “It gives students opportunities in courses where they might not normally see as many chances to build portfolios or explore careers,” Ms. Zilly said. “It allows them to learn about these industries and gain recognition for their hard work.”
For Summer, the takeaway is simple but very powerful “I love how not only I’ve gained momentum for my future career in fashion, but how my peers have as well,” she said. “FCCLA gives everyone the confidence to go after what they’re passionate about, and that’s what makes it so special.”
