ORLANDO – Students from Braden River Middle, Lakewood Ranch High and Manatee High were among the more than 6,800 taking part in the recent Family, Career and Community Leaders of America 2012 National Leadership Conference.

This year’s student-originated theme for the annual meeting was “#realitycheck.” The conference began with a greeting from Miceala Figueroa, Florida’s state president and a Lakewood Ranch High School senior.

Throughout the five-day convention, participants examined and discussed several critical issues, including family, school and community violence prevention, physical as well as financial fitness, future career exploration and countless community service projects.

Thirteen students competed in various STAR (Students Taking Action with Recognition) events during the conference.

Braden River student Hailey Todoroff received a gold medal in career investigations.

Lakewood Ranch students Alexis Gregor and Cassie Rankin received gold medals in chapter service display.

Other Lakewood Ranch High School students receiving silver medals were Samantha Levy in career investigations, Kate Babiuch, Kiona Poyner and Sarah Yochim in chapter showcase display, Taylor Nafziger, Megan Neu and Morgan Shine in chapter showcase manual, and Briana Nelson-Canty and Tiffany Williams in promote and publicize FCCLA.

Manatee High student, Adrianna Gomez received a bronze medal in food innovations.

All of these students and state officers, Miceala Figueroa, Briana Nelson-Canty, and Miranda Lim, will continue to work with other FCCLA members and advisers in Florida to encourage others to discover their strengths, motivate members to target career goals, and initiate a plan to ignite youth leadership in the community. Family, Career and Community Leaders of America is a dynamic and effective national student organization that helps young men and women become leaders and address important personal, family, work, and societal issues through Family and Consumer Sciences education.

FCCLA has more than 200,000 members and over 6,500 chapters from 50 state associations, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands. The organization has involved more than ten million youth since its founding in 1945.