Eight Long County High School students recently met Gov. Nathan Deal and several other members of the Legislature during the Family, Career and Community Leadership of America Day at the Capitol in Atlanta.

FCCLA is a nonprofit national career and technical student organization for young men and women in family and consumer science education in public and private schools through 12th grade. The students talked with political leaders about their views, the importance of family, careers and the community.

The students, Laurrie Bacon, Ashley Burnside, Meagan Hreha, Jamie Lauver, Ruby Norman, Leticia Sanchez, Maria Sanchez and Kyonna Sims,  accompanied by FCCLA advisor Melissa Hyers, visited with the governor and state Sen. Tommie Williams, R-Lyons, state Rep. Tommy Smith, R-Nicholls, and state Rep. Chad Nimmer, R-Blackshear.

The purpose of the students’ visit was to offer lawmakers a better understanding of what the FCCLA does.

Williams, who represents Long County and is Senate president pro tem, gave the students some historic information on the state Capitol and a tour of the Senate chambers. Smith told the students he was thankful for the support Long County offered when he served as its representative. Smith also expressed his condolences regarding Long County Sheriff Cecil Nobles’ death. Nimmer talked with the students about political donations, the importance of transparency and lobbying with the FCCLA membership.

Hyers said the students participated in a scavenger hunt at the Capitol Museum, where they looked at artifacts and learned about the state song, the state marine mammal and the largest freshwater shrimp ever caught in Georgia. The students also met with several staff members from the elected leaders’ offices.

Hyers said the Long County group joined several hundred other FCCLA students from all over the state.

Williams praised the Long County students’ hard work.

“These students of the FCCLA represent some of our future’s brightest leaders,” Williams said. “We were honored to have them at our state’s Capitol in order to recognize their hard work and commitment to bettering our community.  Understanding the complexities and importance of a strong family unit is of utmost importance and I applaud the efforts of FCCLA for instilling these values in the young students of Georgia.”