Jay Students Attend State Competition with HOSA

In the third year of existence, the Jay High School Health Science Academy has made a positive impact on the learning and networking goals of future health leaders. The academy’s student organization is HOSA (Health Occupation Students of America), and the activities sponsored by the organization teaches students as much about personal growth, as it does about health care roles and responsibilities.

Nina Hendricks, teaches  the Allied Health Assisting curriculum, facilitates the implementation of the Health Science Academy activities on campus and in the hospital. Mrs. Hendricks is  also the liaison between the hospital administration and staff, and the school. HOSA is a student organization for health occupation students  and  includes a mandatory participation in our student/parent agreement. The benefits of learning to network early in life, as well as performing in group settings and attending leadership conferences, are very valuable to future success, and those are just a few examples of what HOSA can do for our students. Mrs. Hendricks is the  the JHS HOSA Chapter Advisor, and works with the regional advisor to plan, implement and evaluate the activities the students participate in each year.

In the third year of competition, the JHS chapter of HOSA had sixteen students qualify to attend the Florida HOSA Leadership Conference. The following students are Regional Finalists who traveled to Jacksonville, FL and competed in the following Competitive Events:

2^nd place regional finalist, Cheyenne Mack (9^th grade) – Home Health Aide

3^rd place regional finalists, Shelby Thomas and Brittany  Gillman(11^th grade) – Health Education

1^st and 3^rd place regional finalists, respectively, Shelbie Barnhill and Quinten Garcia (12^th grade) – Dental spelling.

Although they were tough State competitors and represented their families, school and community well, no one advanced to the National HOSA Leadership Conference.