Students from the Fashion Design and Merchandising program proudly represented New Jersey and the Ocean County Vocational Technical School at the Family, Career and Community Leaders of America (FCCLA) National Leadership Conference held in San Diego on June 28 through July 3. Our district is extremely proud of their hard work and dedication. They pushed themselves out of their comfort zones, put themselves out there, and made new friends from across state and the nation. The students were professional, energetic, and engaged throughout the entire event, truly making the most of this wonderful opportunity provided to them. “It was such a pleasure to travel with them and see them grow in many ways. We look forward to another successful year with FCCLA. The students are already planning next years projects,” said master adviser Carey Gliddon.

The week’s events concluded with the Awards Ceremony, where many of the nation’s top finishers received scholarships, tools, or other prizes related to their career fields in additional to their medals and national recognition. The medals and national recognition awarded are as followed: Abby Coffman, Repurpose and Redesign event, silver medal; Alma Torres, Fashion Construction event, top ten finalists in the nation, gold medal; Karina Urbina Taveras, Fashion Design event, silver medal. Karina was also one of twenty students out of over forty selected by the Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising (FIDM) to participate in the annual fashion show.

Additionally, Ocean County Vocational Technical School's Fashion Design and Merchandising Instructor Carey Gliddon received national recognition from the FCCLA. Carey has been recognized as a 2022 Master Adviser Award recipient.  Award recipients are recognized for advising an affiliated chapter for a minimum of three years, promoting the organization, operating an integrated chapter with a balanced program of work, facilitating youth-centered activities, and keeping abreast of new happenings within the organization. Nationwide there are over 6,000-chapter advisers. This year during the Recognition Session of the 2022 National Leadership Conference, Carrey Gliddon was one of 89 advisers nationwide to be recognized! The Family, Career and Community Leaders of America commends Carey Gliddon for her dedication and leadership in FCCLA and her role in helping students grow by motivating, guiding, sharing, and supporting them is essential to our organization. The Awards was formally announced during the Recognition Session of the National Leadership Conference on July 2, 2022.”

Ocean County Vocational Technical School offers over 30 career training programs for high school students and adults. Visit www.ocvts.org for information about all of the programs and services offered at OCVTS. OCVTS is accepting applications for September classes.  Discover how OCVTS can be a part of your future! Follow OCVTS on twitter, Facebook, YouTube and Instagram.