Nearly 600 students from 36 different schools across the state attended the HOSA State Leadership Conference, which was held at UNMC last week.
HOSA is a career student organization, partnered with the U.S. Department of Education, which is focused on preparing students for careers in health care. HOSA students can be middle school through professional school, but the majority are high school students.
Kori Jensen, Nebraska state HOSA advisor, called the conference a huge success.
“Our students had the opportunity to compete in 52 different competitive events, attend several different health science and leadership breakout sessions and tours and network with health care professionals,” she said. “HOSA is proud to partner with UNMC and Nebraska Medicine to strengthen our pipeline of future health care professionals through the HOSA State Leadership Conference.”
Arya Pokhrel, a Millard North student and a member of the UNMC High School Alliance, was attending his first HOSA conference and said it was really fun.
“I’m enjoying being able to work with my peers, go to different leadership conferences, and learning more about HOSA Nebraska.”
Pokhrel was part of a winning team in the community awareness competition that will attend the national conference in Dallas in June.
Pokhrel gave a health career display presentation about pediatric oncology.
“That’s the path I’d like to take,” he said.
Daniel Phillips, an educator from Grand Island Senior High School, brought 10 students to the event, not only to compete but to see the UNMC campus and learn about the opportunities here.
“Nine of the 10 students haven’t been to a state conference before, so they’re learning a lot,” he said. “They’re getting an opportunity to see what’s involved, attending the breakout sessions and getting their feet wet in some competitions.”
Science and health instructor Pearl Johnson of Gering High School brought 17 students to the event. It was the first time Gering High School had attended.
“I felt that it’s really going to help them learn more about different health careers and give them good experience,” she said.
“This year has been a big learning experience for them,” she said. “I think the next couple of years is going to be very good, and I’m really glad that we’ve decided to participate in HOSA.”