PYLUSD well represented at medical competition, 11 students advance to international conference

Dozens of students from the district – including 58 from Esperanza High School’s Medical Sciences Academy and a team from Valencia High School – competed in the Health Occupations Students of America (HOSA) State Leadership Conference from April 7 through April 10 at the Anaheim Marriott. The conference offers a chance for future healthcare professionals to network with peers and industry professionals, as well as show off their knowledge and skills in a series of competitive events.

The students choose which events they’d like to participate in at the beginning of the school year, and spend their own time – outside of school and class – preparing for them. While all events have a healthcare focus, they also encompass many skills required of any profession, including public speaking, leadership, adaptability, communication and responsibility.

Esperanza High School
Twenty-four Esperanza students who competed qualified in the Top 10 within their event category, while 10 of them received medals.

Medalists:

Emilee Carr – Prepared Speaking – Gold
Hannah Friesen – Healthy Lifestyles – Gold
Simi Johal – Community Awareness – Gold
Maitri Patel – Community Awareness – Gold
Leslie Ramirez – Community Awareness – Gold
Kayla McGeorge – Medical Photography – Silver
Corinne Butler – Prepared Speaking – Bronze
Natalie Kdiess – Community Awareness – Bronze
Sophia Luzzi – Community Awareness – Bronze
Michelle Polen – Community Awareness – Bronze

Top 10 finalists:

Alexa Buenrostro – Medical Innovation
Jessica Heflin – Medical Innovation
Emma Marestaing – Medical Innovation
Darton Nguyen – Creative Problem Solving
Kayla Peterson – Biomedical Debate
Diego Roque – Creative Problem Solving
Savanna Schlager – Medical Photography
Rebecca Schulert – Biomedical Debate
Annabel Solorio – Healthy Lifestyles
Sydney Steinbeck – Biomedical Debate
Cierra Swader – Medical Photography
Maddi Walker – Biomedical Debate
Tayla White – Medical Innovation
Nathan Wilch – Creative Problem Solving

The 10 medalists will now compete at the 40th annual HOSA International Leadership Conference this summer in Nashville, Tenn.

Valencia High School
Valencia senior Ellie Bui placed third in Medical Spelling, and was also invited to attend the HOSA International Leadership Conference at the end of June.