HOSA at UH-Hilo sending 12 to state leadership conference

The University of Hawaii at Hilo will send 12 representatives to compete Feb. 22-24 during the Health Occupation Students of America-Future Health Professionals State Leadership Conference in Honolulu.

The university students will be accompanied by returning chapter adviser Dr. Cecilia Mukai.

The UH-Hilo team is coming off a strong showing at the second annual Big Island Regional that recently took place on the campus.

Approximately 100 members representing chapters at UH-Hilo, Kamehameha Schools-Hawaii and Ka‘u, Keaau and Waiakea high schools competed in a wide range of events, including pharmacology, nursing assisting, veterinary science and public health.

In all, HOSA offers more than 50 different competitive events, building attributes of leadership, professionalism, knowledge and experience in the student’s area of interest.

HOSA at UH-Hilo members earning top honors included the public service announcement team of Leslie Arce, Jerold Cabel and Marjie Retundo, and Shauna Gaylord and Kalalani Ka‘aikala of the community emergency response team.

First-place winners in their respective categories were Kateleen Caye Bio in pharmacology, Sharrylei Fernandez in nutrition, Courtney Guirao in nursing assisting, Chrisovolandou Gronowski in behavioral health and Justin Allagonez, who led a UH-Hilo sweep in the medical terminology category, with John Padapat coming in second and Hazel Faye Sivila placing third.

HOSA-Future Health Professionals is an international organization with more than 175,000 members and 2.4 million alumni.

The organization was established in Hawaii in 2005 and has grown to more than 1,300 members.