On January 17th and 18th, 43 BHS HOSA (Heath Occupation Students of America) contestants competed at the Area V HOSA competition held in Abilene, Texas. Having previously competed in Area VI, this was the first time for BHS HOSA students to compete in Area V.
“We had our most successful area conference ever,” said BHS teacher and HOSA Advisor, Annalyn Deen. “Of the 43 students we took to the area competition, we had 26 place in the top five, and of that 26, we had 16 students place in the top three.”
The 16 top three finishers will compete at the state HOSA conference, March 27th, 28th, and 29th. “We were blown away with our results,” said Deen, noting that the team came away with several awards, including four that won 1st place and five that won 2nd place in their events. “Along with these we had a first for our HOSA chapter,” said Deen. “Journey Buitron and Brady Taylor became the first students to obtain an Area office. Journey is now the Area V Vice President, and Brady is the Area V Secretary.”
The BHS HOSA students that placed at the Area V contest were as follows: Marissa Blincoe (1st place – Dental Science), Alex Hetzel (1st place – Prepared Speaking), Sherlyn Hogue (1st place – Researched Persuasive Speaking), Danna Robertson (1st place – Life Support Skills), Brady Taylor (2nd place – Medical Math), Amelia Collins (2nd place – Medical Reading), Xana Hammonds, Abigail Benson (2nd place – EMT), Alex Vargas (2nd place – Medical Photography), Johnny Crook (2nd place – Personal Care) Elijah Salazar, Tucker Roberts, Eric Burns (3rd place – HOSA bowl), Steven Arceneaux, Abigail Benson, Garret Barnum (Top 10 % Health Care Issues Exam) Madi Mayo (4th place – Medical Photography), Cooper Donathan (4th place – Researched Persuasive Speaking), Cassi Hall, Marley Murray, Sydney Roberts, Emma Sharpe (4th place – Public Service Announcement), Garret Barnum, Connor Vara, Steven Arceneaux, and Cayden Vara (5th place – Public Health)
“We could not be more proud of our students,” stated Deen. “We will be continually working to prepare for State competition. Our goal is to have more success at State and make it to nationals, which is in Disney World in Florida this summer.”
“I am so proud of the hard work my students have put into this competition; it shows that this means a lot to them,” added Deen. “These students understand that these competitions will help them in their future, whether it be on a resume, or with skills they will have mastered before they attend college for their career choice.”
BHS Health Science Teacher and HOSA Sponsor, Ann Tew, also praised the team’s success. “We have had an excellent year,” said Tew, who was awarded “Outstanding New Health Science Teacher in Texas” early last year, and more recently, was named the “2013 Outstanding New Career and Technology Education (CTE) Teacher for Texas.”
“We have a total of 110 members in HOSA this year,” noted Tew. “Our numbers have grown every year.”
Pictured at top, Brownwood High School HOSA Area V Competitors
Above: (left to right) Mrs. Deen, Journey Buitron (HOSA Area V Vice President), Brady Taylor (HOSA Area V Secretary), and Ann Tew pose for a photo at the Area V Competition.
