Cove students trained to educate peers and adults on key life issues

By Kenyatta Madison 

Special to Leader-Press

Money, driving a car and leading their peers. These are priorities for most teenagers and one national high school organization zeroed in on these topics to get their attention and send clear messages to act responsibly.

Five Copperas Cove students enrolled in Family and Consumer Sciences education classes at CCHS attended one of the state’s largest peer training events in Dallas joining more than 300 Family, Career, and Community Leaders of America from across Texas.

The learning event in which members became more knowledgeable in fields relating to and or FCCLA. The attendees are prepared at the conference to become peer educators and go back to their campuses with a clear grasp of the importance of community service, taking a stand and effecting change. Financial Fitness, Leadership, and Families Acting for Community Traffic Safety were major topics being discussed with the teens including Kelsey Wheadon.

 “I learned so much more about safe driving,” Wheadon said. “I also saw old friends and met new ones that I will see throughout the year. It was a great experience to add to my list of events that I have participated in through my four years of FCCLA.”  

Other CCHS peer educators Elena Bigness, Asia Dennis, Keiara Martinez and Reaghan Foley also expressed that they learned a great deal of information and made a plethora of new contacts from around the state.

The event offered rigorous training for the students acting as educators not only for fellow students but will also be responsible for educating teachers, adults, and even other students about specific areas.

The 300 peer educators attending the conference pledged to reach more than 60,000 peers in their local training seminars that will be conducted in their schools and communities.

FCCLA has more than 19,000 members in Texas and nearly 150,000 nationally.  The main mission of the organization is to teach young men and women to become leaders, addressing important personal, family, work, and social issues through Family and Consumer Sciences Education.  The CCHS chapter is under the advisement of Jana Shurtleff.