Shyamala Subramanian, a rising senior at John P. Stevens High School in Edison, has been elected the 2016-2017 national vice president of Competitive Events of Family, Career, and Community Leaders of America (FCCLA).
Shyamala was one of 10 national officers elected during the 2016 National Leadership Conference, that was held July 3-7 in San Diego, California. Being elected a national officer is the highest leadership honor an FCCLA member can achieve.
Shyamala’s election took place during a five-day leadership event centered on the theme “Empowered.” During the week, more than 8,000 FCCLA members, advisers, alumni and guests attended workshops and sessions on relevant youth issues such as career preparation, financial literacy, environmental education, traffic safety, community service and leadership development.
Along with nine other members of the National Executive Council, Shyamala will travel to FCCLA national headquarters in Reston, Virginia, during the year to attend training and program planning sessions. During the year, Shyamala and the other national officers will represent the organization by leading workshops and giving speeches locally and throughout the country, in addition to helping plan the focus and content of FCCLA’s 2017 National Leadership Conference, to be held next July 2-6 in Nashville, Tennessee.
Shyamala will be serving a two-year term on the FCCLA Competitive Events Advisory Team (CEAT). She will work closely with state advisers, educators, youth members and national staff to improve and add competitive events. FCCLA offers students more than 40 events to expand their leadership potential and develop skills that will be necessary in their families, careers and communities. Members are recognized on the local, state and national levels for their participation in Skill Demonstration Events and Students Taking Action with Recognition (STAR) Events.
Shyamala has been an active member of FCCLA since her freshman year at Stevens High. As a chapter member, Shyamala has played an integral role in organizing and carrying out many community service and fundraising initiatives. She has participated in various trainings and meetings at the local, state and national levels and has served as a chapter officer, a New Jersey state officer and a student member on CEAT.
Shyamala is the daughter of Anitha Subramanian and Dr. Hariharan Subramanian of Edison. Patricia DiGioia-Laird is Shyamala’s FCCLA chapter adviser.
