After participating in the Kentucky Health Occupations Students of America competition last month, several students from Hardin County will travel to Nashville this summer to participate in the International Leadership Conference.
Competing students are enrolled in the Health Science Pathway at Hardin County Schools Early College and Career Center.
HOSA is a professional and technical student organization that enables students to acquire and improve their leadership and teamwork skills.
Health science advisor and instructor April Bowman said she launched the organization at EC3 in the 2018-2019 school year. They went to the state conference that first year with a small group, which it called a learning experience. Then COVID-19 hit, causing them to wait another two years to compete again.
The fact that the majority of their HOSA students are making it through and qualifying for Nationals this year was exciting, Bowman said.
“They were very impressive. I thought they did very well,” she said. “We were very shocked, not because we thought we weren’t capable, but because to have this figure for the second time in EC3, it was very surprising.”
The students who ranked and their competitions are:
• Reaghan Scarborough, Jenna Gray and Haven Renfrow, all of Central Hardin, placed second in the PSA.
• Ariana Baker of Central Hardin, third place in home health support.
• Central Hardin’s Julianna Adkins, Central Hardin’s Maddy Burba, North Hardin’s Carlie Fogle and John Hardin’s Kamilla Saprissa, first place health education team.
• Rachael Tanner of Central Hardin, second place in nursing assistant.
• Central Hardin’s Juliana Stith, third place in research writing and persuasive speech.
• Gabrielle Childers of North Hardin, McKenzie Eggleston of Central Hardin and Carionna Gill of North Hardin, third place in medical innovation.
• Kevin Walker of North Hardin, first place in clinical specialty.
“I’m glad I got to be part of this team because they’re all amazing young adults. I know we’ll be the best generation of healthcare professionals,” said Walker, President of EC3 HOSA.
Walker’s clinical specialty event is relatively new to the competition, so they didn’t really know what to expect. He was tasked with presenting a career in health care to the judges and explaining why it fits into the whole of health care. His chosen career was family medicine.
Walker said going to the state was a great experience and he is looking forward to the national championships.
Although everyone who placed qualified to attend the Nashville conference, Bowman said some students decided not to go. As of last week, those planning to compete this summer include Baker, Adkins, Burba, Fogle, Saprissa, Childers, Eggleston, Gill and Walker. Gray will go as a courtesy corps member.
EC3’s HOSA organization is currently fundraising to help students attend the International Leadership Conference, which will be held June 21-25 at the Gaylord Opryland Hotel in Nashville.
“Our goal is that students don’t have to pay for this trip at all,” she said.
For those interested in learning more about how to sponsor the team, call Bowman or the other HOSA advisors at EC3 at 270-769-7930.