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Blue Springs, MO —
When other teenagers are going home after school to watch television or play video games, more often than not Alaina Aylward is sitting at her desk sketching.
That sketching is one of the reasons the soon-to-be junior at Blue Springs High School is the national champion in fashion design at the recent National Leadership Conference of Family, Career and Community Leaders of America.
“What I set out to do was learn a lot of new things,” she said of the competition. “I never expected to do so well in my first year.”
More than 6,600 FCCLA members attended the national conference in Orlando, Fla., which included a five-day convention and STAR Events. STAR (Students Taking Action with Recognition) events are competitive events where members are recognized for proficiency and achievement in individual projects. There are 31 STAR events, including fashion design. Others include applied technology, focus on children, interpersonal communications, job interview, recycle and redesign, parliamentary procedure, early childhood and fashion construction. Aylward, who also placed first at the regional and state level, received a medal and a $3,000 scholarship.
“I was on top of the world when I found out. All of my hard work had paid off, which really meant a lot to me,” she said. “I could not have had a better experience. It combined everything that I love doing.”
As part of the competition’s requirements, she had to design a six-piece collection, along with presenting a detailed portfolio. She also had to showcase one of the collection’s pieces, which includes a pair of pants, shirt and a jacket – all of which she sewed herself. The portfolio includes sketches of all her pieces, patterns for her three-piece sample garment, information about potential careers and any other additional research. The collection is based on baking and sweets.
The last portion of the competition is a 10-minute oral presentation about the collection in front of a panel of judges.
In preparing for the national competition, Aylward redesigned the blouse and made additional “tweaks” to the pants. She said she wanted everything to look as professional as possible.
“I changed the display and added some new elements to show what inspired me,” she said. “I also tweaked the shirt and pants, updated my portfolio and made new tags. I wanted to change things to make them more clean and well presented.”
Renee Herman, a family and consumer sciences teacher at Blue Springs High School, said Aylward did a “phenomenal job.” She said even though she was not allowed to see her oral presentation, she knew Aylward was well prepared.
“Her sewing techniques are impeccable, and she knew what to do in the presentation,” she said. “She proudly represented Blue Springs and the school district.”
With two more years of eligibility in the FCCLA competition, Aylward said she is already thinking about her 2013 collection. However, she is not spilling any secrets.
“I have always enjoyed working with new and different fabrics. My favorite thing to design and create are jackets. I love the construction,” she said. “I have thought about what I am doing next year. But I’m not telling.”
When other teenagers are going home after school to watch television or play video games, more often than not Alaina Aylward is sitting at her desk sketching.
That sketching is one of the reasons the soon-to-be junior at Blue Springs High School is the national champion in fashion design at the recent National Leadership Conference of Family, Career and Community Leaders of America.
“What I set out to do was learn a lot of new things,” she said of the competition. “I never expected to do so well in my first year.”
More than 6,600 FCCLA members attended the national conference in Orlando, Fla., which included a five-day convention and STAR Events. STAR (Students Taking Action with Recognition) events are competitive events where members are recognized for proficiency and achievement in individual projects. There are 31 STAR events, including fashion design. Others include applied technology, focus on children, interpersonal communications, job interview, recycle and redesign, parliamentary procedure, early childhood and fashion construction. Aylward, who also placed first at the regional and state level, received a medal and a $3,000 scholarship.
“I was on top of the world when I found out. All of my hard work had paid off, which really meant a lot to me,” she said. “I could not have had a better experience. It combined everything that I love doing.”
As part of the competition’s requirements, she had to design a six-piece collection, along with presenting a detailed portfolio. She also had to showcase one of the collection’s pieces, which includes a pair of pants, shirt and a jacket – all of which she sewed herself. The portfolio includes sketches of all her pieces, patterns for her three-piece sample garment, information about potential careers and any other additional research. The collection is based on baking and sweets.
The last portion of the competition is a 10-minute oral presentation about the collection in front of a panel of judges.
In preparing for the national competition, Aylward redesigned the blouse and made additional “tweaks” to the pants. She said she wanted everything to look as professional as possible.
“I changed the display and added some new elements to show what inspired me,” she said. “I also tweaked the shirt and pants, updated my portfolio and made new tags. I wanted to change things to make them more clean and well presented.”
Renee Herman, a family and consumer sciences teacher at Blue Springs High School, said Aylward did a “phenomenal job.” She said even though she was not allowed to see her oral presentation, she knew Aylward was well prepared.
“Her sewing techniques are impeccable, and she knew what to do in the presentation,” she said. “She proudly represented Blue Springs and the school district.”
With two more years of eligibility in the FCCLA competition, Aylward said she is already thinking about her 2013 collection. However, she is not spilling any secrets.
“I have always enjoyed working with new and different fabrics. My favorite thing to design and create are jackets. I love the construction,” she said. “I have thought about what I am doing next year. But I’m not telling.”
