HOSA is an extracurricular activity offered at Bedford High School and, for the first time this past year, at Bedford Junior High School, for students interested in health careers. There are over 14,000 students from around the world at the middle school, high school and collegiate levels that compete in one of the over 80 events to choose from.
These students competed against their peers in various events at the Regional level hoping for a coveted spot at the State Leadership conference. Then they took their skills on the road to Traverse City to see how they fare against the best in Michigan. Students that placed in the Top 3 of their events at the State Leadership Conference earned a spot at the International Leadership Conference held in Nashville, Tennessee on June 22-25, 2022. At this elite level, a team from both Bedford High School and Bedford Junior High School placed in the Top 3 of their events!
Congratulations to Ilana R. and Hussein J. for their second place finish in Health Education at the high school level out of 100 teams in this event!
And the rookie team from the junior high, Iva R. and Hussein S. took first place in Health Education at the International Leadership Conference!
Bedford Junior High High had an exceptional first year as a HOSA chapter with 7 of their members advancing all the way to the International Leadership Conference. In addition to Iva and Hussein S., these students competed for BJHS:
Aubrey M. and Sophia J. competed together as partners in Health Career Display
Riley M. competed in Math for Health Careers
Chloe W. competed in Health Career Preparation
Irelyn N. competed in Extemporaneous Health Poster
This rookie junior high team benefitted from the successful experiences of veteran high school HOSA students Ilana and Hussein J. who served as mentors as the team was established.
BJHS HOSA Advisor, Tina Kelly, looks forward to building on the success of their first year, “I am so proud of the hard work Iva and Hussein put into planning, presenting and WINNING their third GOLD medal in the HOSA International Competition! The whole team worked hard, on to another great year of HOSA accomplishments! Let’s fill that Mule Corral with more gold!!”
Bedford High School students Mollie K. and Jillian M., also qualified to compete at the International Leadership Conference based on their top 3 finish in Michigan’s State Leadership Conference. Mollie took her knowledge of Nutrition to Nashville and Jillian took on the Cultural Diversities and Disparities test at the international level as well.
Jennifer Regalado, the high school HOSA advisor, was equally proud of her HOSA competitors, "I am so proud of our Bedford HOSA students that participated at the International Leadership Conference in Nashville. This was our first time participating in person at an ILC and I look forward to many more opportunities for our students to excel. Best of luck to Mollie and Jillian as they were graduating Seniors and to Hussein and Ilana as they begin their Senior year. All of these students have served as leaders at the high school and I know they will continue to shine."
These students took the HOSA theme of “Shatter Expectations” and did exactly that! We are so proud of their accomplishments! They worked hard, not only in their subject area chosen for competition, but also in community service efforts and fundraising to cover the costs of participating in these events.