To be a Hero
FHA-Hero is a program that helps create skills to help in the workplace, builds community, and focuses on career development. Students in the program at NPHS focus on the cuisine aspects of FHA-Hero and learn how to professionally prepare, plate and present dishes.
“It’s a great program to be a part of because through all the leadership-building and career development, you can gain a lot of great skills for the outside world after you graduate high school,” said Hayley Taggart, junior and regional officer. Taggart has been involved in FHA-Hero since her freshman year.
Participants in the program compete at the regional, state, and national levels for their category. There are three categories, known as industries, that members can compete in: child and family development and education, interior and clothing design, and foodservice and hospitality. However, students from NPHS primarily focus on the foodservice and hospitality industry.
“We tend to do very well. Since 2009, when we started competing, we have had the region winner or some student in the top five positions that they could progress to state every year, and then we have had the state first place winner four years,” said Leigh Ann Diffenderfer, program advisor for FHA-Hero. She added, “last year, we won first place at region in commercial food prep, first place at state in commercial food prep…those students won $50,000 in scholarships. They went on to national FCCLA competition and won silver medals.”
The program this year has been also focusing on community service events and opportunities in addition to competitions.
“Especially in this past year we have been trying to focus on community service,” said Taggart. “So we were trying to focus on recreation and really getting the students involved in the organization and we focused on community service and really giving back to the community.”
As part of their community service this year, FHA-Hero staffed a lemonade stand in the quad on Feb. 3 to raise money to fund research for childhood cancers. Taggart stated that the lemonade stand “got a really good turnout” and that she hopes the stand will be continued in future years.
“We wanted to have a community service event to look to what’s really important to us and reflect our program goals through the week,” said Taggart.
The Spring Meeting this year occurs on Feb. 21, and the students involved in FHA-Hero have been preparing for the various events.
As part of this preparation, “(We have been) making a scrapbook…of every major event we have done in FHA throughout the year,” said sophomore Kienna Herron, the Chapter Historian.
The program is 100% chapter, so students enrolled in Food and Nutrition or Culinary Arts are automatically involved in FHA-Hero, and students who have taken these classes in the past are also able to join the program. FHA-Hero allows students who are enthusiastic about community service and culinary skills to compete in a fun and cooperative environment. “This is a really great program, and everyone should try it because it’s a great opportunity,” said Taggart.
“Food is life, food is fun. It makes life delicious to learn more about food,” said Diffenderfer.
