STAR Events (Students Taking Action with Recognition) recognize members for proficiency and achievement in chapter and individual projects, leadership, and career preparation.
Every event is cross-walked to Virginia’s Family and Consumer Sciences course competencies, the FCS national standards, Career Ready Practices, Career Clusters, 21st Century Skills, and the FCCLA national programs.
2027 State STAR Events: Wednesday, April 7, 2027, in Virginia Beach.
In-person, held as a pre-conference activity. Events begin early in the morning, so plan your travel accordingly.
Need to Know Information
- Project Summary Form (Required). The Project Summary Form must be completed for ALL national-level events run at state competition. Complete the Required Online Project Summary Form, and read the STAR Events Online Project Summary Form Instructions.
- Entries. Each chapter may enter two entries per event and level, as space allows. The exceptions are Chapter in Review Display and Chapter in Review Portfolio, which allow one entry per level.
- Conference Registration. STAR Events participants must also register for and participate in the State Leadership & Recognition Conference. Conference registration is a separate fee from STAR Events entry. See state conference details.
- Dress Code. The official FCCLA national uniform is not required for state competition, but it is certainly allowed. See the 2026 Revised Virginia FCCLA Dress Code.
- Culinary Events. Baking & Pastry, Chicken Fabrication, Classic Knife Cuts, Culinary Arts, and Culinary Arts Exhibit have course requirements for eligibility, and a small event fee applies to four of them. See Culinary Event Reminders in Step 3.
- Guideline Revisions. Rules can change during the year. Check the 2026-27 Revisions & Updates to STAR Events Guidelines regularly.
- Preparing for April 7, 2027. Important information for STAR Events participants and advisers will be posted here. Check back in March 2027.
Prepare & Register for Virginia’s Competition
Virginia chapters need the information in the Virginia FCCLA STAR Events Manual to register for and participate in all Virginia STAR Events. The manual is updated every year to reflect revisions made by national FCCLA or the Virginia FCCLA Board of Directors. Work through Steps 1 to 4 in order.
These buttons jump to each step. Please read all four steps below.
Step 1: Download the Checklist for Advisers
The checklist gives critical step-by-step instructions for entering students in Virginia FCCLA STAR Events. Use it to save time and avoid costly errors. Download the Checklist for Advisers.
Step 2: Download the “General Information” Section of the Virginia FCCLA STAR Events Manual
The General Information section is a mandatory document, required for all events. It contains the important forms and information needed to enter any event at the state competition. Do not move on to the specific event rules until you have downloaded and reviewed it. Download the Virginia FCCLA STAR Events Manual 2026-27.
Step 3: Download the Specific Event Information
National events: use your FCCLA portal.
State-only events: use the Virginia rules below.
National Events (Qualifiers Advance to National Competition in the Summer)
How to Find the National Rules in Your FCCLA Portal
The rules and rubrics for every national event are in the national STAR Events Guidelines. Students and advisers can access STAR Events resources from the FCCLA portal:
- Log into your FCCLA portal.
- Click the Resources tab on the top menu.
- Click the Competitive Events menu to access the guidelines for each event, either as a DropBox link or downloadable Zip File.
Updates can occur throughout the year, so check these guidelines regularly.
Virginia FCCLA does not edit the national guidelines. The national guidelines and rubrics are the rules for every national event listed here, and they are used at the Virginia state competition. Slight modifications for managing events at state competition are listed separately under “Modifications to National STAR Events Rules for 2026-2027 Virginia FCCLA State Competition” below.
National FCCLA released this year’s STAR Events Guidelines in September 2026 and has already made edits to them. Depending on when you download the guidelines, you may need to download certain parts again. Edits will keep being posted whenever national makes changes before our state conference. The 2026-27 Revisions & Updates to STAR Events Guidelines is a running list of these changes. Check it regularly.
Italicized terms in the national event rules are defined in the glossary of the national STAR Events Guide.
Virginia Participant Resources
Virginia FCCLA provides extra materials for many national events. Open the box below to see the full list of national events and the Virginia-provided resources.
Open the List of All National Events and Their Virginia Participant Resources
All national events are listed here. Events with a link have additional materials provided by Virginia FCCLA to support advisers and students.
- AI for Impact
- Baking and Pastry (participant resources)
- Career Investigation
- Chapter in Review Display (participant resources)
- Chapter in Review Portfolio (participant resources)
- Community Service Project Display (participant resources)
- Community Service Project Portfolio (participant resources)
- Culinary Arts
- Early Childhood Education (participant resources)
- Entrepreneurship
- Event Management (participant resources)
- Fashion Construction (participant resources)
- Fashion Design
- Focus on Children
- Food Innovations
- Hospitality, Tourism, and Recreation
- Interior Design (participant resources)
- Interpersonal Communications
- Job Interview (participant resources)
- Leadership (participant resources)
- National Programs in Action
- Nutrition and Wellness
- Parliamentary Procedure (testing resources)
- Personal Finance Presented by EVERFI (participant resources)
- Professional Presentation
- Promote and Publicize FCCLA (participant resources)
- Public Policy Advocate
- Repurpose and Redesign (participant resources)
- Say Yes to FCS Education (participant resources)
- Sports Nutrition
- Sustainability Challenge
- Teach or Train (participant resources)
- Teaching Strategies (participant resources)
- All State-Only Culinary Events (participant resources)
Some National Events Are Not Part of the Virginia State Conference
National FCCLA runs Skill Demonstration Events, Online Challenge Tests, Knowledge Bowl, and Virtual Business Challenge on its own, outside our state conference. Their guidelines do not apply to Virginia state competition, so you can skip them when preparing for April 7. Use the guidelines for the events listed above.
Updates & Reminders for State Competition
Virginia makes slight modifications to how national events are managed at state competition. The national rules themselves are not changed. The graphic for this year is below, with a text version underneath it.
Printable version: Modifications to National STAR Events Rules for 2026-2027 Virginia FCCLA State Competition
Before the Competition
- Check National FCCLA Major Changes to 2026-2027 Competitive Events Guidelines.
- Check the 2026-27 Revisions & Updates to STAR Events Guidelines for changes made since the guidelines were released.
- Review all “General Policies” in the General Information section of the Virginia FCCLA STAR Events Manual, beginning on page 10, before event planning and preparation. The General Information section is Step 2 above.
What Is New This Year
- In line with National FCCLA’s evaluator model, Virginia state competition evaluation stations will have a minimum of two evaluators. Whenever possible, stations will include two adult evaluators; however, one adult and one qualified student evaluator may be used. When volunteer availability and the JudgePro system allow, up to three evaluators may be assigned. See Volunteers below.
- NEW Event Added: AI for Impact
- Chapter Service Project (Display & Portfolio) has been renamed Community Service Project (Display & Portfolio).
- ALL national events will allow for the Top 3 to advance to the 2027 national competition in San Antonio, Texas.
- Students participating in the Culinary Arts Exhibit must secure any hair longer than shoulder length and remove all jewelry. See individual event details for full dress code requirements.
- A Storyboard page has been added to the file folder requirements for the Culinary Arts Exhibit event. The Storyboard is worth five (5) points. To accommodate this addition, five (5) points have been reallocated from the References section. See the event guidelines for complete requirements and scoring details.
Reminders from Last Year’s Changes
- For ALL national events, the requirement for chapter advisers to confirm STAR Competition and the completion of the Online Orientation Form by participants for national competition is no longer associated with a point (2 points total) on the event Point Summary Form. Those extra points are now part of the event rubrics.
- Testing for Parliamentary Procedure will take place the day of state competition and will be in a written format.
Culinary Event Reminders
- Baking & Pastry and Culinary Arts recipes and menus will be released to competing chapters about 4 weeks prior to the competition.
- The Virginia FCCLA Board of Directors has added a small event fee for each participant in Baking & Pastry, Chicken Fabrication, Classic Knife Cuts, and Culinary Arts to cover the cost of food needed for the competition. The fee amounts are listed in the Virginia FCCLA STAR Events Manual.
- Students participating in the Culinary Arts Exhibit must secure any hair longer than shoulder length and remove all jewelry. See individual event details for full dress code requirements.
Several events have course requirements in order for members to be eligible. Baking & Pastry, Chicken Fabrication, Classic Knife Cuts, Culinary Arts, and Culinary Arts Exhibit accept members from these courses:
- 8272 – Catering/Banquet Specialization
- 8273 – Quantity Food Specialization
- 8274 – Restaurant Operation Specialization
- 8275 – Culinary Arts I
- 8276 – Culinary Arts II
- 8279 – Baking & Pastry Specialization
Courses 8250/8249 (Introduction to Culinary Arts) are not allowed for Baking & Pastry and Culinary Arts. However, members in this course may enter one of the state-only culinary events.
State-Only Events (Do Not Advance to National)
Additional culinary events are offered at the state competition that do not advance to national competition. Their rules are below.
| Event | Type | Rules |
|---|---|---|
| Chicken Fabrication | Live | |
| Classic Knife Cuts | Live | |
| Culinary Arts Exhibit (categories: Breads, Decorated Cake, Patisserie/Confectionery, Show Pieces) | Exhibit | PDF Sample Resume (Google Doc) |
Equipment Lists
These lists show all of the equipment that each student competitor must bring to state competition.
- Baking & Pastry standard equipment list [four weeks prior to competition]
- Culinary Arts standard equipment list [four weeks prior to competition]
Step 4: Affiliate and Register
Affiliate in the National Portal before registering for conference. Register for the State Leadership & Recognition Conference by February 15 for the best rate.
Before February 15: affiliate all chapter members with national FCCLA so their names appear in the list for your conference registration. Members must be affiliated first in order to register for STAR Events. Please verify each student’s grade in school and the spelling of their name.
Affiliate members and register for state conference and STAR Events by February 15 for the best rates. STAR Events fees are per participant and are in addition to state conference registration. Some STAR Events will reach maximum capacity and may close after February 15, so register early.
$30
January 1 to February 15
Best rate. Affiliate by this date.
(guarantees competition event entry of choice)
$60
February 16 to March 5
(some competitions may be closed)
$100
March 6 to final cut-off
(competition event entries only if space allows)
Online Registration: instructions for navigating the registration site and the link to register will be posted here and on the state conference page. Check back in January 2027.
Reminder: STAR Events participants must also be registered for and participate in the State Leadership & Recognition Conference. Conference registration is done together with the online STAR Events entry. See state conference details.
Volunteers
STAR Events only run with volunteers. Each chapter that enters students must provide at least one qualified person to serve as a room consultant or evaluator. Alumni, administrators, other teachers, and chapter supporters are all welcome.
Evaluation stations will have a minimum of two evaluators. Whenever possible, stations will include two adult evaluators; however, one adult and one qualified student evaluator may be used. When volunteer availability and the JudgePro system allow, up to three evaluators may be assigned.
Sign up in either of these ways:
- In your online conference registration: list the advisers already on file, or add other volunteers as “guests.”
- With the Virginia FCCLA volunteer sign-up form: Volunteer sign-up form (Google Form)
Competitive Events Updates and Adviser Resources
- 2026-27 Revisions & Updates to STAR Events Guidelines: a running list of changes to the state and national guidelines
- National FCCLA Major Changes to 2026-2027 Competitive Events Guidelines
- STAR Events Descriptions 2026-27
- FCCLA Quick Reference Citation Guide Chart
- National Programs Flyer – State & National 2026-27
- Presentation Skills activity with cards (for advisers)
- Lesson Plan-Find the Right STAR Event
- Tips for managing competitive events
- Why Should I Compete in FCCLA STAR Events?
- 2027 state STAR Events scholarships [TBA]
Frequently Asked Questions
Do we have to complete the Project Summary Form?
Yes, for all national-level events run at state competition. Complete the Required Online Project Summary Form, and read the STAR Events Online Project Summary Form Instructions.
Where do I find the rules for national events?
Log into your FCCLA portal, click the Resources tab on the top menu, then click the Competitive Events menu. Virginia FCCLA does not edit the national guidelines. Check them regularly because they can be updated throughout the year. Changes made during the year are listed in the 2026-27 Revisions & Updates to STAR Events Guidelines.
Do students have to attend the state conference too?
Yes. STAR Events participants must register for and attend the State Leadership & Recognition Conference. The conference fee is separate from the STAR Events entry fee.
How many entries can my chapter have?
Two per event and level, as space allows. Chapter in Review Display and Chapter in Review Portfolio allow one entry per level.
Do students have to wear the national FCCLA uniform?
No. The national uniform is not required for state competition, but it is allowed. See the dress code under “Need to Know Information.”
Why can’t I find my student’s name in registration?
Members must be affiliated with National FCCLA first. Affiliate in the National FCCLA Portal before February 15, then check that each student’s grade and name spelling are correct.
An event I want is full. What can I do?
Some events close after the first deadline once they reach capacity, so register early. For other questions, contact the Competitive Events Manager below.
Questions?
Contact the Competitive Events Manager:
Laura Butcher Short
Laura.Short@VirginiaFCCLA.org