County HOSA collects 29 state awards

By Staff
Melissa Cason
The Franklin County Health Occupation Students of America earned almost 30 medals in the state competition held in Gadsden last weekend.
HOSA Sponsor Kay Hargett said she took 32 students to the competition, which featured schools from all 67 counties, and 28 medals were earned.
"We have 28 students who will be going to the national competition in Nashville in June," Hargett said.
Nathan Gray and Curtis Morrell are two of the winners who will be going to the national competition.
The pair came in second place in the Emergency Medical Technician competition.
"We had to take a written test, and we had a multi-victim scenario we had to complete," Gray said.
The pair began studying for the written test before Christmas break, but received some real-life experience from paramedics at NorthStar Paramedic Service in Red Bay.
"They taught us a lot," Morrell said. "Had it not been for Ms. Crowder helping us, we probably would not have placed."
Ms. Crowder is long-time paramedic Sherri Crowder, who has worked with the paramedic company for more than 10 years.
"We came down here a few times, and she helped us go through different scenarios we might have," Morrell said.
Hargett said community support for her HOSA students has been amazing.
"We have another pair who went to the TV station here and did their public service announcements at no charge," Hargett said. "We couldn't ask for any more support from our community."
Gray and Morrell both said they are interested in becoming paramedics, and they plan to work with Crowder to prepare for the national competition.
"Maybe we can win the national competition, too," Morrell said.
Other HOSA winners were: Grant McKinney, Alexa Sparks, Meghann Kingsly, Sabrina Jackson, Allison Morrow, Phillip Pearson, Cheryl Scott, Jackie Ozbirn, Katie Fowler, Emily Weaver, Candace Yurechko, Kirstin Sharp, Hillary Williams, Amber Lofton, Keitha Hallmark, Shelby Smith, Kelcie Kent, Jiset Martinez, Elizabeth Russell, David Cupples, Natalie Stiles, Amber Tollen, Healther Ayers, David Thorn, Devon Lindley and Britney Davis.
"I am very proud of my students," Hargett said. "Now, we are working on preparing for the national competition while fundraising at the same time."