Lincoln High students shine at national FCCLA Conference

WISCONSIN RAPIDS – Two Wisconsin Rapids Lincoln High School students brought home top honors from a national leadership conference that drew more than 10,000 participants to Orlando, Fla., this summer.
Hayley Jensen and Maggie Kozlowski competed at the Family, Career and Community Leaders of America National Leadership Conference from July 5-10, representing Wisconsin in separate categories of the organization’s signature Students Taking Action with Recognition events.
Both students earned gold medals and placed in the top 10 nationally in their respective competitions. Jensen captured second place in Hospitality, Tourism and Recreation Level 3, while Kozlowski competed in Entrepreneurship Level 3.
For Jensen, the competition showcased “Climb 360 Wellness and Therapy,” a business plan for an indoor rock climbing facility designed to address physical and mental health needs in Central Wisconsin. Her presentation included climbing options, pricing, staffing requirements and customer service information, along with a complete website design.
“Presenting my project at the National Leadership Conference was an amazing opportunity,” Jensen said. “I’m proud of what I accomplished and inspired by the other students I met.”

The annual conference, themed “Dare to Dream” this year, brought together FCCLA members from across the country for competitive events, leadership workshops and networking opportunities. The organization focuses on Family and Consumer Sciences education to develop leadership skills and career readiness.
Kozlowski, who served on Wisconsin’s State Executive Council, said the experience opened her eyes to career possibilities and taught her the importance of helping others.
“I’m thankful for the wonderful friendships, amazing opportunities and the community of people that supported me throughout my journey,” she said. “Without them, I would not have been able to travel the country and fulfill my dream of being on the national stage.”
FCCLA is a national organization with more than 240,000 members and 5,200 chapters. The group aims to help students address personal, family, work and societal issues through Family and Consumer Sciences education.
The 2026 National Leadership Conference will be held in Washington, D.C., from July 6-10, with the theme “Connected.”