U-46 students take part in health occupations conference

Dozens of Elgin Area School District U-46 high school students and aspiring health care professionals competed in the Illinois HOSA (Health Occupations Students of America) State Leadership Conference held in Decatur earlier this month.

Approximately 790 students from around the state attended this conference and competed in more than 30 events. U-46 students placed in every category.

Elgin High School students Shruti Africawala and Vidhi Patel received the only two HOSA state scholarships given this year, and Elgin High School won the award for submitting next year's winning state conference theme, "HOSA Hearts and HOSA Minds: The Future Starts From All Different Kinds."

"HOSA allows our students to get a head start on their careers in the health care industry," said Carol DePue, U-46 coordinator of Career and Technical Education.

"U-46 students demonstrated a commanding lead above their peers from other districts at the conference, which will pay off when they begin to pursue their college and career goals."

The following students ranked first in their categories:

• Bartlett High School: Maria Jahangir, Human Growth & Development Knowledge Test; Jamie Schubert, Extemporaneous Health Poster; Jill Shah, Medical Photography and Prepared Speaking.

• Elgin High School: Vidhi Patel for Safety, Pathophysiology Knowledge Test, and CPR/First Aid Event; Courtney Ban, Medical Law and Ethics Knowledge Test; Shruti Africawala, Pharmacology Knowledge Test, CPR/First Aid Event and Clinical Nursing Event; Martin Beshay, Nutrition Knowledge Test; Fernanda Luna, Transcultural Health Care Knowledge Test and Nursing Assisting Event; Diana Tang, Medical Math; Khristian Marshall, Home Health Aide Event; Vernoika Omori, Medical Assisting Event; Abraham Orduno, Physical Therapy Event; Samantha Walczuk, EMT Event; and Mitva Patel, Researched Persuasive Speaking.

• Larkin High School; Trenten Jackson, Sports Medicine Event; Jordan Smith, Veterinary Science Event; and Alejandro Magana, Healthy Lifestyles.

• South Elgin High School; John Ribay, Dental Terminology; and Jared Cruz, Medical Spelling.

U-46 students also placed in the top three for several team events, including HOSA Bowl, Biomedical Debate, Parliamentary Procedure, Forensic Science, Career Health Display, Creative Problem Solving, Community Awareness, Health Education, and Public Service Announcement.