The future of the medical field is in great hands, with many Islanders part of the charge. 

 

The Grand Island Senior High HOSA Future Health Professionals represented well at the HOSA - Future Health Professionals State Leadership Conference  March 12-14, 2023 in Omaha.

 

GISH placed in five categories and placed second as a team in the HOSA Bowl. In all, 12 Islanders competed in the state competition. 

 

Megan Stone, English teacher in GISH’s Academy of Medical Sciences and HOSA advisor, said many students competed in multiple events.

 

”They really challenged themselves to know a wide variety of knowledge and skills,” she said. 

 

“They studied quizlets, came in after school to practice skills, watched skill videos, and dressed spectacularly! Those who had never participated in SLC before (all but four) were able to see the big picture of all of their hard work this year, especially witnessing the intensity of HOSA Bowl semi-finals and finals,” Stone said. 

 

The GISH HOSA team was also awarded the Barbara James Service Award for all of the hours and work put into the Healthcare Screening Fair, which was hosted on March 18. 

 

Megan Stone added that a lot of hard work went into making the Healthcare Screening Fair a reality, and the students deserved the recognition.

 

“This was mostly due to Alejandro and MacKenzie's (HOSA members) dedication to the healthcare of our community, and how the whole chapter fully supported their mission and vision, dedicating meetings to preparing for the fair,” Stone said.

 

Competitive events for the state conference are either online only or require an online test and an in-person skill demonstration. All online tests took place in February. All in-person skill demonstrations took place at the state conference. Students who placed 1st-5th qualified for competing at the International Leadership Conference in Dallas in June. Fourth and fifth place winners serve as back-ups if the other winners can't go to ILC.

 

“I'm just so proud of all of the participants, especially how they handled themselves through wins, losses, and challenges; they supported each other and other schools,” Stone said. “Students took the initiative to represent our chapter and school well,” she said.

 

 

HOSA - Future Health Professionals State Leadership Conference Results:

 

Biotechnology (online test + in-person skill demonstration)

Magda Kori - 3rd place

 

Home Health Aide (online test + in-person skill demonstration)

Mukarim Yahya - 1st place

 

Physical Therapy (online test + in-person skill demonstration)

MacKenzie Skarka - 3rd place

 

Sports Medicine (online test + in-person skill demonstration)

Makenna Garrels - 5th place

 

HOSA Bowl (online test + in-person quiz bowl rounds)

Alejandro Amador, MacKenzie Skarka, Makenna Garrels, Magda Kori - 2nd place (after multiple tie breakers and sudden deaths...it was INTENSE!)

 

Cultural Disparities & Diversities (online test)

Alejandro Amador - 2nd place

 

 

Congratulations, Islanders!

 

#IslanderPride