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Pittsburg State University Spring 2019Family & Consumer SciencesTODAYOpening a New Door –Nutrition and WellnessOver the past five years, weadvocated for a new program inthe FCS Department in the areaof Nutrition and Wellness. Thiswas recently approved by theUniversity and we are movingforward with hiring a facultymember to lead the program.The focus will be on nutritioneducation in community settingsand will allow the teaching ofcourses such as communitynutrition, sports nutritionand nutrition for specific agegroups. The full program will bedetermined after the new facultymember arrives.Go to pittstate.edu/fcs/programs to learn more. The program will not be a dieteticsprogram, but will focus more on preparing students for nutrition areas that do not require alicensed dietitian.Family & Consumer Sciences and FCCLAEach year our department participates in regional and Kansas’ Family, Career and CommunityLeaders of America (FCCLA) Star Events Leadership Conferences. Our students and facultyhave been serving as judges for events for the past five years in Kansas. On the closing day wehave our students staff a recruitment table where they share information about the educationalopportunities at Pittsburg State and in the Family & Consumer Sciences Department.Beginning last year, we have also attended the Missouri FCCLA Leadership Conference.Between these two events it has put our faculty and students in contact with over 2,400 studentstaking Family & Consumer Sciences classes at the secondary level and allowed our students to usetheir promotional skills in sharing information about our programs and PSU.If you are a teacher at one of these events, stop by our table.The Endof an EraDr. Lynette Olsonis a name familiarto many at PittsburgState University as ourcurrent Provost and VicePresident of AcademicAffairs.Priorto thatposition,she spentyears asthe DeanOlsonof theCollegeof Arts & Sciences, andbefore that she was theChair of the PSU Family& Consumer Sciencesdepartment. After 22years at Pittsburg StateUniversity, Dr. Olsonis retiring and willleave the university thissummer. She is oneof us.She has been amentor for many andis an avid supporter ofFamily and ConsumerSciences at the local,state and national level.She has served in PhiUpsilon Omicron asa past president andis a current Phi UFoundation Board ofDirectors member.Dr. Olson endoweda scholarship in the(see, Olson, pg. 4)1

Conclave 2018, BostonStudent Feature:Alexis DeweyDeweyA little over a year ago, Alexis Deweyfelt the call to fight against humantrafficking, in any way, shape, orform. During Fall Semester 2018,she had the opportunity to doher internship with Rapha HouseInternational in Joplin, Mo. Raphais the Hebrew word for “healing”.Rapha House fights against childsexual slavery in Cambodia,Thailand, and Haiti with their SafeHouses and Kids Club Preventionprograms.Combining her enjoyment forfashion merchandising and passionfor fighting for women/childrenthat have been sexually exploited,Alexis has fulfilled the role as theOrder Fulfillment and InventoryControl Management Intern. Shehas the pleasure of overseeingthe merchandise that the girls inCambodia create in their sewingprogram. Rapha House’s mission andmotto is “Love. Rescue. Heal.”To find out more about RaphaHouse, visit facebook.com/rhfreedomboutique/Alexis Dewey is a junior majoringin Fashion Merchandising witha minor in Women’s and GenderStudies.2Back: Ms. Prelogar, Dereka Swaim, Amy Gideon. Front: Erika Lundstrom, Molly Lundberg,Cassidy BinghamThe Eta Chapter of Phi Upsilon Omicron (Phi U) made quite the showing atConclave in Natick, Mass. September 27-29, 2018. Co-advisor, Goldie Prelogartook five students. The Eta Chapter was able to send so many students because ofdedicated fundraising on the part of the students. Over 1,500 was raised for the tripwith car clean-out events. Also in attendance was Dr. Lynette Olson, Pittsburg StateUniversity’s Provost in her new role as a director for Phi U’s Educational Foundation.The 2016-2018 theme for Phi U was “Leadership Through Service” whichwas the emphasis of the conference as well. In addition to an on-the spot serviceproject of making over 100 fleece blankets for the local homeless shelter “Blanketsfor Pearl Street”, there were many other highlights. There was the walking tour ofBoston narrated by Dr. Benjamin Franklin (who never broke character), Serviceand Leadership themed roundtables during breakfast, the honorary induction of Dr.Juliana F. W. Cohen who studies childhood nutrition and teaches at both MerrimackCollege and Harvard, and her keynote speech. Dr. Cohen’s research into children’sfood choices and school policies was extremely fascinating and she also graciouslyhosted several breakout sessions.In addition to the knowledge gained, there were plenty of opportunities for thestudents from various universities to meet and network. New friendships were forged.There were moments to see old friends and colleagues and competitive fundraising forscholarships in the “Silent Shakeup”. Many were brought to tears during the awardsceremony, the honoring of the 50 year members who came with their families andfriends, as well as the heartfelt farewell address of the outgoing National President, Dr.Michelle Toews.The conference ended with a powerful candle-lit charge, “Our Light ShinesBrighter Together in Leadership and Service”.P.S. The Collegiate Eta Chapter members would like to reactivate the AlumniChapter. If you were initiated as an Eta Phi U member and you would like to join theEta Alumni Chapter, please email Goldie Prelogar at gprelogar@pittstate.edu.

NAEYCDr. AmberTankersleyattendedthe AnnualConference forthe NationalAssociation forEducation ofYoung Children inWashington, DCduring November Anasti Wilson, Dr. Amber Tankersley, and Rachel Reeder.2018 with AnastiWilson and Rachel Reeder, both Early Childhood Unified students. They had theopportunity to attend many inspiring sessions including one about play by LisaMurphy and an interactive music session with children’s recording artists Gregand Steve. The exhibit hall provided a chance to explore products and companiestargeting early childhood, much information and freebies were obtained.The students served as volunteers at the conference in exchange forcomplimentary conference registration. This opportunity allowed them to meetother student volunteers and see the behind-the-scenes action of a nationalconference.The group was invited to attend a VIP reception honoring the 90th birthdayof Barbara Bowman. Barbara Bowman is an early childhood education expert/advocate, professor, and author. Her areas of expertise include early childhoodcare/education, educational equity for minority and low-income children, as wellas intergenerational family support and roles. She has served on several boards andwas the co-founder of Erikson Institute, where she pioneered the teaching of earlychildhood education and administration. The reception was attended by manyprominent early childhood figures.In addition to attending the conference, the group also made time to visit theNational Portrait Gallery and went on an evening walking tour that includedstops at the White House, Washington Monument, WWII Memorial, LincolnMemorial, and the Vietnam Memorial Wall.Prelogar becomesCertifiedPersonal andFamily FinanceEducatorIn December of 2017, GoldiePrelogar became a CertifiedPersonal and Family FinanceEducator (CPFFE). Thiscredential wasdeveloped forthe AmericanAssociationof Family andConsumerSciences byPrelogarNationalFinancialEducation Leaders to distinguishprofessionals who have masteredthis subject area.In order to achieve certification,candidates must hold abaccalaureate degree, pass thenational certification competencyexamination assuring others ofa threshold level of knowledgebased on identified standards,and ascribe to the Code ofProfessional Conduct. To maintaincertification, professionalsmust complete 75 professionaldevelopment units (PDUs) duringeach three-year certification cycle,thus documenting maintenanceand growth of professionalcompetence.Mrs. Prelogar is proud of thisaccomplishment and continues tolook for opportunities to spreadfinancial literacy to individuals,families, and the community.In June, Dr. Whitbeck, Dr. Hendershot, Yolanda Dyck, and Cassidy Binghamtravelled to Atlanta, Ga. for the annual conference for the American Associationof Family and Consumer Sciences. Dr. Whitbeck and Dr. Hendershot presentedduring roundtable discussions. This year’s theme was “Cultivating Social andEmotional Competence for Healthy Relationships”.3

FCS ConnectThe FCSConnectprogram wasestablishedto connectFamily & Consumer SciencesTeachers at the secondary levelwith our department in a waythat is mutually beneficial. As adepartment, we receive requestsfor information teachers canshare about career opportunitiesfor their students that might beinterested in a Family & ConsumerSciences related career, requests forposters and other things to put inclassrooms that would help promoteour programs. We are also aresource to area teachers looking forcurriculum and program resources.Teachers, please go tohttps://goo.gl/forms/SrAO2GhLPpWQliGV2 and fill inthe form so you can join to get ourmonthly mailings/e-mailings. Wehope that through this continuedcontact we can increase the numberof students looking at careersin family & consumer sciencesprofessions.OLSON(continued from pg. 1)department for outstandingstudents and that has theoption of being used to helpsupport FCS student travel toparticipate at AAFCS NationalConferences. She has alwaysbeen a strong advocate forprofessional development andgiving back.As a department, we inviteyou to join us in wishing herwell on her future adventures.Thank you, Lynette, for yourleadership.4Above: Phi Upsilon Omicron-EtaChapter New Initiates, October 2018.Jenny Barnes, Auguste Brown, EmilyDavison, Natalie de la Rosa, KaleenaMeyers, Cameron Moore, AndreaParsons, Nichole Polk, Ashlee Setina,Lauren Stringer, and Hope Wilson.Right: During 2018, PhiU completedseveral service projects. In April, theycomplete their professional projectby coordinating a Parent ResourceRoundup. This roundup included localorganizations that offered resourcesto parents. Pictured: Rebecca Bell,Cassidy Bingham, Alexius Amos, ErikaLundstrom, and Yolanda Dyck.The End of Fashion MerchandisingAfter having FashionMerchandising as aconcentration for decadeswe are now in the processof phasing it out. Duringthe past 20 years we havehad tremendous turnover inFashion Merchandising facultywhich has resulted in fallingenrollments and an inability tofind a long term solution.We are currently teachingPrevious student Kristin Padilla showcasing herthe last of our fashion coursesFashion Merchandising research at AAFCS 2017.this semester with the exceptionof our Construction Techniquescourse, as it is also a part of the Family & Consumer Sciences Educationmajor. The Textile class will be moved over to Interior Design in the School ofConstruction, as it is required for that major. We will miss having the programarea and the outstanding faculty and students we have had through the years. Forthose graduates of that program area, “Once a Gorilla, Always a Gorilla.” You willalways be a part of us.