HOSA Competition

Meridian Community College health care students won awards in the Health Occupation Students of America National Leadership Conference in Nashville, Tenn.

The students were among 5,000 across the country to compete in this annual event.

Winners included MCC Respiratory Care students Alisha Cook, Erin Eubanks and Juliana Fulton, public service announcement, second place. Surgical Tech student winners were Teoneka Wallace, home health aide, second; Jaylssa Steel, home health aide, third place; LaCorea Collins, researched persuasive speaking, top 10; Debbie Ward, extemporaneous health poster, top 10; and Anita Lambert, medical assisting. Practical Nursing student winners were Greg Rigdon, nutrition, top 10; Leah Polanco and Kelly McKinney, clinical nursing, top 10; and Schulondra Stevens, clinical nursing.

HOSA is a national student organization endorsed by the U.S. Department of Education and the Health Science Technology Education Division of ACTE. HOSA's two-fold mission is to promote career opportunities in the health care industry and to enhance the delivery of quality health care to all people. HOSA's goal is to encourage all health occupations instructors and students to join and be actively involved in the HSTE-HOSA Partnership.

MCCers Steve Arinder, chair of the health education division and respiratory therapy program coordinator and instructor; and Zielda Gandy, program coordinator and instructor of the surgical technology program, also attending the convention.