RHS HOSA students compete at state leadership conference
Seventeen RHS HOSA students qualified for the state leadership conference held at the Montgomery Renaissance Feb. 24-25.
“This is the largest group of competitors from RHS since I have been the health science teacher over the past 11 years,” noted Dr. Stephanie Oliver. “The students had to take a computer test in December in order to qualify. Each category had its own number of competitors selected to attend.”
The students and Oliver were recognized at a recent Russellville school board meeting.
RHS senior Leah Rushing said the competition was a lot of fun. “I felt like it opened my eyes to all the different kinds of health career fields, and we got to meet a variety of people,” she said. “I also enjoyed spending so much time with the people in my class. I learned a lot of new things, increasing my knowledge of the medical field, things to think about for my future career as a nurse.”
RHS senior Hailey Mitchell said it was a wonderful experience that helped build her leadership skills. “We got to make really good friends with everybody down there. It was an amazing experience. It helped me build my skills for a physical therapy career.”
The following students qualified for the state leadership conference:
- Leah Rushing – Nurse Assisting
- Hailey Mitchell – Nurse Assisting
- Nicole Foster – Pharmacy Science
- Camille Lynn – Pharmacy Science
- Whitten McGee- Pharmacy Science
- Carlos Richardson – Pharmacy Science
- Zadie Cooper – Pharmacy Science
- Malorie Pace – Pharmacy Science
- Noah Harville – Medical Terminology
Oliver said the state leadership conference also had recognition events. “In order to qualify for the Barbara James Service Award, students had to complete at least 70 hours of community service related to health,” she said. The following students received the BJSA:
- Anna Beth Oliver
- Gracie Smith
- Katie Brooke Cummings
- Kara Moore
- Jaiden Calvert
- Olivia Gann
- Brayden Malone
- Abby Boyd
Nationals will be held in June at the Gaylord Opryland Hotel in Nashville. The following students have qualified to attend:
- Camille Lynn, third place in the state for Pharmacy Science
- Anna Beth Oliver, BJSA 100–plus hours of community service
- Gracie Smith, BJSA 100–plus hours of community service
- Katie Brooke Cummings, BJSA 100–plus hours of community service
- Kara Moore, BJSA 100–plus hours of community service
- Jaiden Calvert, BJSA 100–plus hours of community service
- Olivia Gann, BJSA 100–plus hours of community service
