Oklahoma HOSA took more than 290 members to the HOSA International Leadership Conference in Nashville, Tennessee, and brought home 46 competitive event placements, along with other awards.
Oklahoma HOSA members received nine first places, six second places and nine third places, along with 22 top 10 finishes. Because 11 of those competitions were team events, the contingent earned 22 gold medals, 11 silver medals and 12 bronze medals. More than 13,000 middle school, secondary and postsecondary students attended the conference.
Two Anatomage teams from Francis Tuttle Technology Center were recognized: Peters Puppies placed first, and each team member received $200, and Dim Sum Dynasty placed eighth.
“Our experiences at the HOSA International Leadership Conference reaffirm what we’ve always known: HOSA isn’t just a student organization; it’s a critical pipeline into the health care workforce,” said Amy Warner, Oklahoma HOSA state adviser with the Oklahoma Department of Career and Technology Education. “From competing on the international stage to connecting with global health leaders, our Oklahoma students left inspired, empowered and more prepared than ever to meet the needs of our communities. HOSA is shaping future professionals and ultimately shaping the future of health care.”
Oklahoma HOSA received recognition for an overall membership increase, along with the HOSA Outstanding Achievement award for the Oklahoma HOSA Day with the Thunder event.
Karen Evans, Francis Tuttle Technology Center HOSA adviser, received the GW Publishers Outstanding Service Award.
In state level recognition, Natalie Bowman, Francis Tuttle Technology Center, was named Outstanding Local Adviser, and Oklahoma HOSA President Hunter Brashears, Western Technology Center, was named Outstanding HOSA Leader. Francis Tuttle Tech was honored for the second highest postsecondary donation to the national service project, NMDP, which works to find cures and save lives of patients with blood cancers and disorders.
Brashears and Maddison Norris, state secretary, Tulsa Technology Center, each received a $500 ACTE scholarship.
Oklahoma students were also recognized for receiving gold, silver and bronze Barbara James Service awards and for HOSA Happenings. They also received National Service Project and ARC Blood Drive recognition.
HOSA is one of seven CareerTech student organizations affiliated with CareerTech programs. It is affiliated with health science 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).
Oklahoma CareerTech: Oklahoma’s Workforce Leader
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 63 campuses, 395 PK-12 school districts, 16 Skills Centers campuses that include three juvenile facilities and 32 adult education and family literacy 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.
