Students Attend South Carolina Association of Family and Consumer Sciences 111th Annual Conference

Nine students from Alabama A&M University’s Department of Family and Consumer Sciences recently traveled to West Columbia, South Carolina to attend the South Carolina Association of Family and Consumer Sciences (SCAFCS) 111th Annual Conference, gaining valuable professional development and networking opportunities with peers and industry leaders.

The trip marked the first time Alabama A&M students participated in the conference, which brought together family and consumer sciences students and professionals for educational sessions, mentoring and career preparation activities. The event was designed to expose students to emerging trends in the field while strengthening connections among institutions, including partner institution South Carolina State University.

Students selected to attend are members of the Agriculture and Family and Consumer Sciences Academy, known as AgriFCS, and were chosen based on satisfactory academic progress. The initiative supports student success through academic enrichment, leadership development and professional exposure.

Attending students included Deshylan White, a sophomore with a concentration in human development and family studies from Birmingham, Alabama; Kenya Stewart, a sophomore with a concentration in human development and family studies from Houston, Texas; Micole Cooper, a sophomore with a concentration in human development and family studies from Chicago, Illinois; Demiya Heath, a sophomore with a concentration in human development and family studies from Birmingham, Alabama; Micah Thompkins, a freshman with a concentration in human development and family studies from Atlanta, Georgia; Elayna Roland, a freshman with a concentration in human development and family studies from Mount Juliet, Tennessee; Brayden Stone, a sophomore with a concentration in apparel, merchandising and design from Memphis, Tennessee; Jordan Edgecombe, a freshman with a concentration in nutrition and hospitality management from Chicago, Illinois; and Mary Hathaway, a sophomore with a concentration in human development and family studies from Pontiac, Michigan.

Students were accompanied by Dr. Ethel Jones, chair of the Department of Family and Consumer Sciences and co-principal investigator for the AgriFCS Academy, and Lenese Vaughner, project manager for the AgriFCS Academy.

During the two-day conference, students attended a series of professional development workshops and educational sessions focused on career readiness, wellness and leadership. Topics included mindful self-care and resilience, interview skills, resume writing, public speaking, professional dress, mental health in college and the importance of community service. The conference concluded with a banquet and fashion show highlighting the diverse career pathways within the field of family and consumer sciences.

For many students, the experience offered the chance to broaden their understanding of the profession and explore how different concentrations within family and consumer sciences intersect.

“As a student concentrating in human development, I tend to lean more toward topics related to child care and development,” said Micole Cooper. “This conference helped me learn more about all the concentrations so that I can not only help children, but also help improve other individuals’ lives in all aspects.” 

Micah Thompkins said the trip also encouraged students to step outside their comfort zones while building meaningful connections with professionals and peers.

“Traveling to South Carolina for the FCS conference provided new experiences and ways to step out of my shell,” said Thompkins. “Thanking God for the opportunity, and learned a lot from the professors and teachers there. Getting wisdom and networking is the blessing of this experience.”

From left: Kenya Stewart, Demiya Heath, Micole Cooper, Micah Thompkins, Elayna Roland, Brayden Stone, Deshylan White, Mary Hathaway and Jordan Edgecombe.