Oklahoma HOSA members brought home more than 60 medals, along with other honors, from the 2022 HOSA International Leadership Conference in Nashville, Tennessee.
The 224 students, advisers and guests represented 47 Oklahoma HOSA chapters. Students earned 22 first place gold medals, 20 second place silver medals and 19 third place bronze medals. In addition, 23 students scored in the top 10 in their competitions.
In addition to competing and networking with HOSA members from across the country, Oklahoma HOSA members and advisers were responsible for running four competitive events: Clinical Nursing, Pharmacy Science, Emergency Medical Technician and Academic Testing.
“I am very honored to work alongside Oklahoma students and advisers,” said Debbie Bennett, HOSA state adviser with the Oklahoma Department of Career and Technology Education. “The students showed respect and professionalism yet enthusiasm and excitement throughout the entire conference. Our advisers continue to lead our students in becoming future health professionals.”
Oklahoma HOSA was recognized for an 8% increase in membership. The CareerTech student organization’s membership for 2021-22 was 8,107.
Members were also honored for making the largest contribution to the HOSA service project, Be The Match, which matches donors with patients who have blood cancers and diseases like leukemia and sickle cell. Oklahoma HOSA donated $21,797.60, and members completed 9,215.89 hours of volunteer work for Be The Match.
Eight Oklahoma HOSA members were recognized at ILC for reaching mastery level in the Health Care Issues Exam; students reaching master level are in the top 10% of test-takers, Bennett said. Ashley Orellana-Montiel, a postsecondary HOSA member from Meridian Technology Center in Stillwater and a state officer, won the award for highest overall score among postsecondary students.
Three Oklahoma HOSA members received scholarships: Haylee Ward, Pontotoc Technology Center, $1,000 from Applied Educational Systems; Korbin Cardoza, Francis Tuttle Technology Center, $1,000 from the National Consortium for Health Science Education; and Dru Gilliam, Kiamichi Technology Centers, $1,000 from National Technical Honor Society.
Oklahoma HOSA advisers were also honored. Paula Estrada, Central Technology Center, was recognized as the OKHOSA Outstanding Postsecondary Adviser, and Karen Evans, Francis Tuttle Technology Center, was recognized as the OKHOSA Outstanding Secondary Adviser.
Amy Warner, Francis Tuttle Technology Center secondary adviser, was elected to the HOSA Inc. board of directors as the central region local adviser.
Samir Elneser, a HOSA alum from Metro Technology Centers, was recognized as Oklahoma Outstanding HOSA Alumni.
HOSA is one of seven CareerTech student organizations affiliated with CareerTech programs. It is affiliated with health careers education. The other six are Family, Career and Community Leaders of America (family and consumer sciences education), FFA (agricultural education), DECA (marketing education), SkillsUSA (trade and industrial education), Business Professionals of America (business and information technology education) and Technology Student Association (science, technology, engineering and mathematics).
About Oklahoma CareerTech
The Oklahoma Department of Career and Technology Education provides leadership and resources and assures standards of excellence for a comprehensive statewide system of career and technology education. The system offers programs and services in 29 technology center districts operating on 59 campuses, 394 PK-12 school districts, 13 Skills Centers campuses that include three juvenile facilities and 31 adult basic education service providers.
The agency is governed by the State Board of Career and Technology Education and works closely with the State Department of Education and the State Regents for Higher Education to provide a seamless educational system for all Oklahomans.
