Carson High School HOSA students shine in state competition

CARSON CITY — More than 115 Carson High School Career and Technical Education, Health Occupations Students of America shined in the Nevada State Leadership Conference held at the Nugget Casino Resort in Sparks, Nev. last month. More than 1,000 students from across the state of Nevada competed in more than 40 medical competition events.

The conference was held March 18-21 with the CHS student team taking 5 chapter awards, 1 scholarship and 30 students who qualified to attend the International Leadership Conference in Dallas, Texas, June 26 to July 1.

Kelly Gustafson, CHS CTE health sciences teacher, said the Carson City students exhibited professionalism, respect, knowledge and wisdom beyond their years throughout the school year, as well as in competition.

"I am so proud of our students and all of their hard work and dedication to HOSA,” she said. “It shines through in all of their work and in the awards they captured at the state conference.”

The chapter earned first place for the Largest Chapter in the state with 336 members. CHS also claimed the Gold Membership Award where the chapter must have at least 95 percent of their total health science pathway students enrolled and in good standing as HOSA members. Carson High HOSA was the only school in the state to achieve this award with 125 percent membership (more HOSA members than students enrolled in health science classes).

The students were also recognized for their time and effort to support the northern Nevada office of the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI). Earning the National Service Project Award was the highlight of the year for Gustafson.

The HOSA National Service Project Award honors HOSA chapters that provide support of a national health organization on a local, state and national level. It recognizes student-planned activities that may include fundraising, community service projects and volunteer hours. Considerations are also made for HOSA chapters that work directly with NAMI to help expand mental health education, awareness and support activities that help improve the lives of individuals and families affected by mental illness.

“Additionally, we had a number of students qualify for the Barbara James Service Award with a minimum of 100 service hours related to a healthcare field,” she said. “We do a number of charity fundraising events and volunteering throughout the year. These include the Carson Tahoe Cancer Foundation (Hope Fest and the selling of Breast Cancer Awareness items), Pancreatic Cancer Society (volunteer at their 5K and golf events) and the Seeliger Elementary School Pumpkin Patch (manage a first aid booth as well as volunteer to help in other capacities and booths).”

CHS CTE HOSA state competition results:

Chapter Awards:
Largest Chapter in Nevada – 336 members, an increase over last year’s 325 members
Gold Membership Award – membership for 125 percent health science student membership
National Service Project Award
Outstanding HOSA Chapter Scrapbook: Sophia Cacioppo
HOSA Happenings: Jennifer Artz

Linda Lopez Scholarship
Hannah Golik

Barbara James Service Awards:
Crystal Vargas
Barbara Stankute

Healthcare Issues Exam Qualifiers:
Ashley Lynch
Jessica Camelon
Chloe Marks
Itzel Mariscal
Fiona McDonald
Lizbeth Orozco
Kirsten Iverson
Makayla Hernandez
Rachel Weese
Taylor Dawley
Isela Rodriguez
Chyanne Prado-Holland
Lucan VanBro
Citlaly Preciado

Health Profession Events:
Medical Terminology: Sydney Fields, fifth place
Transcultural Healthcare: Rachel Rundell, fourth place
Medical Math: Hannah Hope Hodorowicz, third place
Physical Therapy: Gracie Woodward, fourth place
Vet Science: Haley Garver, second place, and Mackenzie Meza, fifth place
CPR/First Aid: Victoria Defilippi and Chloe Marks, second place
Public Health: Jennifer Artz, Hannah Golik and Sydney Lloyd, second place
Public Health: Ethan Byassee, Jakob Carlson, Lucas VanBrow, Garrett Clampitt and Evan Vizzusi, fourth place
Public Health: Maria Juarez Razo, Alize Gonzales, Selena Hernandez, Savannah Sharp, Rachelle Dominguez-Hernandez and Lesly Sanchez, fifth place
Extemporaneous Health Poster: Laina Joy Aquino, first place
Healthy Lifestyle: Tyler Crisp, second place, and Nathan Smothers, fourth place
Health Education: Jasmine Riediger and Abbie Cowan, second place
HOSA Bowl: Jaidyn Shepard, Gabby Fernandez Lopez, Kaitlyn Marsh and Anthony McMenamy, fifth place
MRC Partnership: Crystal Vargas, Makayla Hernandez and Micah Merriner, first place
Pharmacy Science: Jashmeen Thind, second place

In similar fashion, Pioneer High School’s HOSA Chapter exhibited excellence as a team and earned a number of medals and awards:

Ramon Medrano, Chapter President and Student Presenter, "The Importance of Electronic Health Records" Symposium
Jocelyn Morales, Voting Delegate
Janet Solis-Lara, Voting Delegate
Shayne Beauford, Gold Medalist, Medical Assisting
Savannah Lavey, Participant, Medical Assisting
Jadelynn Skenandore, Participant, Medical Assisting
Melody Stone, Participant, Medical Assisting
Thaniqua Williard, Bronze Medal, Health Education
Gabrielle Mathews, Bronze Medal, Health Education
Monica Reyes, Bronze Medal, Health Education
Chapter Award: Gold Team Award for Chapter Participation
About CHS CTE
Carson High School’s Career and Technical Education program encompasses a vast number of classes and programs that teach today's students the high demand skills needed to get a job. CTE better prepares students for post-secondary education and/or the world of work, whether they choose to enter the work place directly from high school, or select to pursue post-secondary education in a technical training program, apprenticeship, or a two, or four-year college. CTE prepares students for the world of work by introducing them to workplace competencies, and makes academic content accessible to students by providing it in a hands-on context.

ABOUT Carson City School District
Located in Nevada’s capital, Carson City School District offers public education to approximately 7,600 students throughout Carson City. The district includes 6 elementary schools, 2 middle schools, 1 alternative high school and 1 comprehensive high school. Carson City School District boasts many successes including impressive graduation rates, strict safety measures, programs for gifted students and advanced-placement classes, among several others. In a joint venture with Western Nevada College, the Carson City School District Jump Start College program allows students to complete their senior year of high school and freshman year of college simultaneously. For more information, visit carsoncityschools.com.