College ready for high school events

McCOOK, Neb. -- McCook Community College is hosting three pre-Thanksgiving events aimed at high school students, with two this week and one next week.

On Wednesday, MCC Family and Consumer Sciences Department hosts the District 11 Fall Leadership Conference of Family, Career, and Community Leaders of America (FCCLA). The McCook Community College Business Department will host Mid-Plains Community College's annual E-Day competition Friday at the Peter and Delores Graff Events Center on campus. On Tuesday, Nov. 25 MCC hosts the McCook High School Basketball Jamboree.

"We love having high school students on campus," said Andy Long, McCook Community College vice president.

"With the addition of the Peter and Dolores Graff Events Center and the improvements made on campus over the last ten years we have a perfect venue to host these events and a perfect venue for a lot of these students to start their college career after finishing high school."

More than 100 area high school students will be on campus Wednesday for the FCCLA conference between 8:30 a.m.-3:15 p.m. The theme is "Real Life"

Students at this event are expected to hear from state and peer officers and other chapter leaders about state and national programs, leadership development, and chapter management.

"The focus of this conference is really on preparing FCCLA members for "REAL LIFE" and the issues students face every day," said District 11 FCCLA Advisor, Cathy Ochsner from Perkins County High School.

Wednesday's activities will take place on campus at the Peter and Dolores Graff Events Center, Tipton Hall, McMillen Hall and Walsh-Brady Hall.

The morning program includes opening ceremonies, installation and state officer candidate speeches. Morning guest presenters include Carol Sherman of the Sandhills Crisis Intervention Program and self-defense training from Brad Garrick.

In addition to meetings, students will take a 30-minute tour of the campus

Afternoon sessions include: "FCCLA at the Table," "Flash to Healthy Living," "Wonder Woman," "Runza in McCook," "Fatal Vision Goggles," "S.M.A.R.T. Goals," and "Dating Violence."

Family, Career and Community Leaders of America is a nonprofit national career and technical student organization for young men and women in Family and Consumer Sciences education in public and private school through grade 12.

Chapter projects focus on a variety of youth concerns, including traffic safety, parenting, family relationships, substance abuse, peer pressure, environment, nutrition and fitness, teen violence, and career exploration. Involvement in FCCLA offers members the opportunity to expand their leadership potential and develop skills for life -- planning, goal setting, problem solving, decision making, and interpersonal communication -- necessary in the home and workplace.

FCCLA is a dynamic 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 in nearly 6,500 chapters nationally.

On Friday the McCook Community College Business Department will host Mid-Plains Community College's annual E-Day competition. The business departments in McCook and North Platte host the competition in alternating years.

"I'm especially excited about hosting e-day," Long said. "I think the future of a strong southwest Nebraska is a vibrant small business community. This helps prepare the next generation of entrepreneurs to take over for the great business owners we have in the area."

Students in Friday's competition will be divided into teams and will work to develop a business plan in their groups. Student can choose from the following rotations: logo design, web page design and finance and budget/real estate auction and marketing activities.

Participating students will have the opportunity to win free tuition for a class from MPCC.

On Tuesday, Nov. 25, MCC hosts the basketball jamboree from 5-9:30 p.m. in the main gym with the McCook High School girls taking on Southern Valley at 6 p.m. and the MHS boys playing at 7:30 p.m.