Looking back at HOSA’s second annual regional competition

in Features by

For the second time, Heritage hosted the HOSA Regional Winter Leadership (Broward County) Conference on campus Feb. 10. 

The conference had nearly 60 schools competing at the middle school, high school and collegiate level, totaling about 1,300 student competitors. Prior to the competition, students in health science, health professions, emergency preparedness and some teamwork categories completed a 50 question multiple choice test in order to qualify for the regional competition.

At the competition, the qualified competitors were asked to share presentations, perform timed clinical procedures and react to simulated emergency situations. Afterwards, students ate lunch from food trucks and played health science trivia to ease their post-competition stress. 

For the awards ceremony, the Regional Officers and Fla. State Officer Trisha Sakamuri raffled off $15 gift certificates to Starbucks, Dunkin Donuts and Raising Cane’s before repeating the HOSA Creed. Then, sophomores Noah-Duro Andre and Elizabeth Xiao performed the National Anthem. Finally, awards began and 145 Heritage students placed in the top five of their respective categories. Those who placed in the top three will represent the Broward County region at HOSA States April 4-7 in Orlando.

Find the results below:

HOSA-2024-Winners-1Download

By the end of the ceremony, all Heritage students gathered on stage to celebrate their wins and all of the students moving on to the state competition. (Photo/Krishna Johri)

From left to right, freshmen Susana Regueira, Ally Xi, Saanvi Kaul and Amal Israilovaw worked together practicing health science trivia during the lunch break. By the end of the game, freshman Aryav Thakur won third place and a Dunkin Donuts gift card. (Photo/Lauren Wong)

Competitors choose from either Greek or Mexican food for lunch and ice cream for a dessert. Between their 12 p.m. to 2 p.m. break, they ate in the student center, listened to music and played health science trivia to win three gift cards. (Photo/Lauren Wong)

All competitors gathered in the theater with their participation certificates and project boards, waiting for their medals and ribbons. In the meantime, nine gift cards were raffled off to the audience. (Photo/Andrew Rollins)

Sophomores Noah-Duro Andre and Elizabeth Xiao prepare backstage by setting up the grand piano and practicing their performance before the awards ceremony begins. Andre sang the lyrics to the national anthem while Xiao played the piano behind the curtain. (Photo/Andrew Rollins)

This is Lauren’s second year on the staff. She enjoys playing Papa’s Sushiria, taking naps and writing whatever’s on her mind. She’s excited to make this year the best one yet and have an awesome entertainment section.