Last Monday, members of West Boca Raton High School HOSA headed to Kaiser University in West Palm Beach to prove their skills against the best in the region. Walking into a HOSA competition feels a bit different than a typical school field trip to Kaiser University. Instead of hoodies and sweatpants, students were dressed in professional black or navy blue blazers and scrubs, ready to step into their roles as future healthcare professionals.
HOSA is much more than just memorizing facts. The regional competitions are much more intense than a standard classroom quiz. Our students competed in a variety of categories that tested their hands-on skills and quick thinking. Some of the categories were Health Science Events, which focused on academic knowledge through tests. The Health Professions Event tests clinical skills and knowledge in specific fields such as nursing, assisting, and dental science. The Emergency Preparedness Event focuses on emergency response skills, and the Leadership Events that enhance professional skills through activities and research posters.
What makes the results even more impressive is that much of the preparation happened outside of school hours. Students spent their lunch breaks and afternoons reviewing flashcards and practicing for the hands-on skills they have to perform in front of judges.
The competition was tough with hundreds of students from all over the region coming to claim a spot on the podium. Despite the stiff competition, we are proud to announce that 30 of our members placed in the top of their event. Their wonderful performance showcased the strength of our school’s medical academy. But the journey does not end here. Because of their high score, those 30 students have qualified for the state competition in Orlando.
For the 30 students who qualified for states, the next few weeks will involve even more practice. They will dive deeper into their textbooks to prepare for the increased difficulty on the state-level rubrics.
Congratulations to everyone who competed at Kaiser University. You represented West Boca Raton High School with pride, professionalism, and excellence. proved that the future of health care is in good hands.
Congratulations to the following students who made it to states. Ozan Ider (1st), Saymon Hissa (1st), Carmela Monteverde (1st), Ava Stone (1st), Valentina Lopez (1st), Leona Dornelas (2nd), Alana Duggan (2nd), Sky Cunningham (2nd), Alissa Pham (2nd), Lara DeCastro (3rd), Lorena Correia (3rd), Alicia Andrade Xavier (3rd), Mariana Freitas (3rd), Camila Cadena (3rd), Aysha Regnier (3rd), Sofia Martinson (3rd), Eda Konguoglu (3rd), Isabella Diotto (3rd), Valery Gonzalez (3rd), Rose Diaz (3rd), Mohammad Salama (3rd), Lexie Peleg (4th), Naisha Parikh (4th), Sophia Huynh (4th), Isabella Correa (4th), Sabrina Micolta (4th), Julianna Zalkin (4th), Ariane Medina Sanchez (4th), Jason Liu (5th), and Khiara Palma Gil (5th).
