Hospitality and TourismRevised 2/20/2018

FCCLA Talking Points

FCCLA Culinary Arts Competition (1990-Present)

PURPOSE: This paper is to provide highlights of the Alabama State Department of Education sponsored FCCLA STAR Event competitions that promote the Hospitality and Tourism Cluster.

BACKGROUND:In Alabama, FCCLA has been a big part of the Hospitality and Tourism Cluster for many years. FCCLA STAR Events has options for students to demonstrate their skills and knowledge. It also provides scholarship opportunities for high school students competing at the state and national levels in the FCCLA STAR Events.The STAR Event competitions available for students at the state level are Culinary Arts, Applied Math for Culinary Management, and Hospitality, Tourism and Recreation, Entrepreneurship, Food Innovations, Job Interview, Life Event Planning, and many others. Since 2006, the Hospitality and Tourism cluster programs have increase from 16 culinary arts programs and 800 students to . . .

48 Restaurant, Food, and Beverage Services (Culinary Arts) Programs

2 Lodging Programs

6 Recreation, Travel & Tourism Programs

Over 7000 students enrolled

Across all competitions, each team/individual was evaluated by industry standards in areas such as: Safety, Sanitation, and Appearance; Team Organization; Food Production; Food Taste and Presentation; Knife Cuts; Food Cost Calculations; Culinary Knowledge, Skills, and Creative Abilities. Their performance during the practical was observed and rated by expert judges from the foodservice industry and colleges from Alabama and across the nation.

AWARDS: 1st-3rd place teams/individuals receive scholarships from culinary institutes.

FCCLA National Competitions:Applied Math for Culinary Management, Culinary Arts, Hospitality, Tourism and Recreation, Entrepreneurship, Food Innovations, Job Interview, Life Event Planning, and many others

Cluster Competitions: Culinary Chicken Fabrication,Culinary Food Art, Culinary Knife SkillsCulinary Math Challenge, and Hospitality, and Tourism and Recreation Challenge

SUMMARY:

Alabama’s Hospitality and Tourism Cluster Programs guide students toward:

Mastery of Subject Area / Larger Institutional Goals
High Quality Work / Initiative Development
Passion / Creativity

The Alabama State Department of Education conducts the annual Alabama FCCLA State Conference and STAR Events. Alabama’s is an awesome event exemplifying the Hospitality and Tourism Cluster curriculum supporting workforce development for our states industry.

For more information, please contact Esther Hicks at or 334-353-1591.