The feeling of being welcomed by the fresh smell of breakfast as you walk into a bustling room full of conversation and laughter, this is the feeling as you enter an FCCLA meeting held every first Wednesday of each month in room 1625.

FCCLA (Family, Career, and Community Leaders of America) is one of many outstanding clubs here at Lambert High School. Founded in 1945, this organization helps students become leaders and address important personal, family, work and societal issues through family and consumer science education. 

“Our mission is to promote personal growth and leadership development through family and consumer sciences education. Focusing on the multiple roles of a family member, wage earner, and community leader, members develop skills for life through:

• character development,
• creative and critical thinking;
• interpersonal communication;
• practical knowledge; and
• career preparation,” the mission statement states on Lambert FCCLA’s website.

The advisors, Mrs. Azbell (Food Science and Nutrition pathway), Mrs. King (Culinary pathway) and Coach Tighe (Teaching pathway) all work hard to make sure every meeting is both fun and informational for all the members. FCCLA hosts many fundraising and volunteering events throughout the year for members to learn how to become active participants in society. Some events include Snack Shack, where members bake delicious treats and sell them around the community, Garden Day, where students help maintain the garden at Lambert to use for the Culinary and Food Science and Nutrition pathways and Pie/Mason Jar Sales where students sell pies and mason jars (filled with premade cookie ingredients) during the holidays to help raise money. 

Although breakfast is a very tempting reason to join FCCLA, many choose to further expand their knowledge about opportunities including their pathway(s) to be prepared for the future.

“I joined FCCLA because I want to explore a career in the food industry and this was the best way to expand my knowledge on what I want to do in the future…and for free breakfast,” Eshitha Narayanan, a member of FCCLA stated.

Although the unforeseen pandemic has made it difficult for FCCLA to revert to its normal routine, the club perseveres and finds new and fun ways to make sure the spirit always stays high!