HOSA Nabs 13 Awards at State Competition

Madison Consolidated High School’s HOSA academic team recently competed in the 2017 State Leadership Conference in Indianapolis. The group of 13 students took home 13 awards, receiving medals for first, second, and third place as well as ten top ribbons. This was the second year HOSA students competed as they doubled their 2016 score of seven awards.

The HOSA students have been practicing to compete in their skills round and knowledge tests since January of the 2017 school year. Spending time after school in study groups and lab groups to practice skills in forensic medicine, human growth and development, medical law and ethics, pharmacy, and prepared speaking. Emily Beaumont, Riley Chism, Bella Erickson, David Hayes, Jeremy Huff, Samantha Lanham, Olivia Omen, Amber Powers, Kelsey Preocanin, Kendall Sedam, Harper Smith, Calista Spears, Latasha Vasquez all competed in the 2017 State Leadership Competition.

The three day event consisted of general sessions including guest speakers,  educational symposiums, competitions, and HOSA social events. During the first general session, Calista Spears was awarded for her dedication and commitment to the HOSA happenings. The rest of the students were awarded during the last award ceremony.

Latasha Vasquez participated in Forensic medicine and placed in the top ten with her partner Emily Beaumont. Vasquez stated, “It was awesome to be in the top 10 for Forensic Medicine because we competed in this event last year as juniors and we didn’t place, so it was great to take home an award our senior year.”

Amber Powers placed second place in Pathophysiology. Powers stated, “When I took the test I felt like I did good(sic), but I didn’t think I did well enough to earn second place and be eligible to go nationals. It was really awesome to finish my senior year winning second place.”

Students who placed in the top three are eligible to go to HOSA Nationals in Orlando, Florida. The National event will be hosted by Disney World in June. Those that placed in the top three are Kelsey Preocanin, Amber Powers, and Calista Spears.

As the seniors graduate and head to college, Madison’s chapter of HOSA will select new officers and begin preparing for the 2018 State Competition. The 2016-2017 officers included: Amber Powers and Emily Beaumont as Co-Presidents. Jeremy Huff as the President-Elect.  Samantha Lanham as the secretary, Latasha Vasquez as the leader in Public Relations, Calista Spears as leader of Community Service, and Harper Smith and Bella Erickson as Treasurers.