FCS Students Attend National Conference
On Tuesday, November 7 through Saturday, November 11, three Family and
Consumer Science students, along with Professor Sterling Wall, attended the
National Council on Family Relations Annual Conference in Minneapolis. Dr. Wall’s
hopes for the students while attending the conference were that they would “meet
famous people, network, and have fun!” Indeed, they did just that.
Through meetings, seminars, and poster presentations, the students had the
opportunity to network with professionals in their field and connect with other
students from around the country. They talked with UWSP alumni and learned
about graduate programs, job opportunities, and upcoming projects. Some
students volunteered their time to help with the conference. Christin Hankison, a
FCS-FLE major, registered to attend a pre-conference session on the topic of how
to get your message into the hands of policy makers, and she even won an iPod Nano at a student new professional
meeting.
Dr. Wall was able to “reunite with former colleagues and meet aDr. Sterling Wall
and Bonnie Braun, the President Elect of the American Association of Family and
Consumer Sciences number of well-known authors and leaders”. He took part in a
tour of social service organizations that reach different ethnic populations in the
Twin Cities area.
One author who Dr. Wall spoke with is Dr. Wally Goddard, author of many books
on parenting, family, and finding your niche. Goddard will visit UWSP next spring
to spend time with Family and Consumer Sciences students. Dr. Wall also spoke
with Bonnie Braun, the President Elect of the American Association of Family and
Consumer Sciences who arranged for the UWSP FCS students to lead an interactive
fact-finding session for professionals at the 2008 their National Conference in
Madison. FCS students will be organizing the 2009 WAFCS State Conference to be held in Stevens Point.
Professional conferences, like the National Council on Family Relations Conference, provide opportunities for students
to network and learn more about their professions outside of the classroom. Many additional conferences are offered
to students in the School of Health Promotion and Human Development, and all students are encouraged to
participate.