East Wake HOSA Succeeds at 40th North Carolina HOSA State Leadership Conference

By: Samaya Edwards

While you took a beach trip, went to the mountains, or just relaxed at home, East Wake HOSA students spent their spring break attending a competition. HOSA stands for Health Occupations Students of America. It takes dedication to spend your vacation competing in health care knowledge and skill events. However, it definitely pays off for these future health care workers.

It was the 40th North Carolina HOSA State leadership conference that members of  East Wake HOSA students attended during spring break. The students were Hamza Ahmed, Ashlyn Barbee, Brooke Bouchelle, Samantha Fuentes Rivas, Logan Jackson, Madisyn Ledford, Noe Nunez, AJ Swaim, David Swaim, and Jhonaton Tudon. They were accompanied by their HOSA advisor, Sandy Tyndall. These students represented East Wake High School at the 2016 NC HOSA State Leadership Conference. The HOSA competitive events are created to measure the knowledge obtained by members in health science and biomedical science classes, related job training and other activities related to HOSA. In addition to the competition students attended health care career exposition, educational symposiums, and many different health care issues event forums. Focal points of the competition included three students from East Wake that qualified for the 2016 International HOSA Conference, which will take place over the summer in Nashville, Tennessee. Brothers AJ and David Swaim scored in the top ten for East Wake HOSA’s Community Emergency Response Team. Jhonaton Tudon also scored in the top ten for Human Growth and Development. Additionally, senior Lauren Thiede received a HOSA Scholarship, one of two scholarships for $500. East Wake definitely didn’t disappoint at the 40th North Carolina HOSA State Leadership Conference.

East Wake’s chapter of HOSA earned numerous recognitions for their hard work and effort this year. The recognitions include: 2016 Gold Star Chapter, National Service Project Award, State Service Project Award, Rex Blood Service’s award, HOSA 100 club, HOSA Century club, and Gold Star Advisor.

East Wake’s HOSA’s competing team cleans up nicely! The team is all smiles as they prepare to compete at the 40th North Carolina HOSA State Leadership Conference.