Five Brownwood HOSA Students Qualify for State Competition

Twenty-eight Brownwood High School students traveled to Hardin-Simmons University on Friday, February 5th and 6th to compete in this year’s Area V Health Occupations Students of America (HOSA) competition.

Brownwood HOSA students qualified for the conference following the district competition that was held as an online test at Brownwood High School in December.

Joining over 1,100 participants at the area competition, Brownwood students competed in events such as Public Service Announcement, Emergency Medical Technician, Medical Spelling, Texas Medical Arts Poster, Home Health Aide, Extemporaneous Writing, CPR and First Aid, Personal Care, Researched Persuasive Speaking, Biomedical Laboratory Science, Prepared Speaking, Clinical Specialty, Veterinary Science, and the Health Care Issues Exam.

“Students that competed in a skill-related event studied guidelines that usually describe five skills for them to memorize,” explained BHS Health Science Teacher and HOSA Advisor, Annalyn Deen. “During competition they were given a scenario of 1 to 3 of those skills to reenact and be judged on.”

“Speaking events were prepared ahead of time and practiced many times all around the school to perfect them,” added Deen. “A lot of hard work and determination was applied by all of Brownwood High Schools HOSA students.”

Deen noted that the hard work paid off as competition was not limited to only area high schools but also included Health Career High Schools and Magnet Schools in the Dallas Fort Worth Metroplex.

The following Brownwood HOSA students qualified for state at the conference:

Hannah Angeles earned her way to state for the second year in a row. She competed in Veterinary Science and won 2nd place. Her skills consisted of identifying 15 breeds of dogs and placing a handmade gauze muzzle on a dog.

Tucker Roberts impressed judges with his writing abilities. He was unsure of his topic upon arrival and had only an hour to develop a paper over the failing VA system in America. Tucker received 2nd place as well.

Elizabeth Aleman-Martinez competed in a skills event called Personal Care. Elizabeth’s skills were to change a patient’s gown and lay them supine. Elizabeth placed 2nd.

Cooper Donathan and Abigail Benson competed in an exam about current health events. They were in the top 10% of over 200 contestants.

Though she narrowly missed qualifying for state, Harlie Leach competed in Home Health Aid and placed 4th.

Rounding out the experience at Area, Cooper Donathan, the outgoing Vice President of Area V, had the responsibility of speaking during the opening and closing sessions, as well as selecting the incoming officers for Area V. “Cooper was a great example to all of our younger competitors,” noted Deen. “Many of them came away wanting to run for Area Office in the future.”

Brownwood High School freshman Maecy Delacruz, Brittlyn Bitters, and Emily Chapa agreed, “It was a good learning experience. A lot of people didn’t even make it to Area so we feel honored to be able to attend our freshman year.”

First time attendant Josh Estrada said, “HOSA has taught me how to become a leader, and Area competition was a lot of fun. I have a lot of studying to do before I go back next year.”

“HOSA is such an important part of our Health Science program here at the high school,” said Deen. “It broadens student’s horizons who have not had the opportunity to go many places. It helps teach our students soft skills many employers desire such as speaking skills, professional dress, and dedication to your work. It gives students the opportunity to see leaders in action in their field of work and inspires them to become leaders themselves. Lastly, it exposes them to careers that will lead them to a great future.”

Brownwood HOSA students will head to Galveston for the state competition, April 14-16.

Pictured at top: (Front row, left to right) Harlie Leach, Cassi Hall, BHS Health Science Teacher and HOSA Advisor, Annalyn Deen (Middle row) Elizabeth Aleman-Martinez, Hannah Angeles, Emily Chapa, Kiley Burns, Emma Sharpe, Dariella Ibara, Alexis Capetillo, Larissa Rodriguez, Danny Mosqueda (Back row) BHS Health Science Teacher and HOSA Advisor, Ann Tew, Samantha Rodriguez, Alyssa Woods, Joshua Estrada, Tucker Roberts, Abigail Benson, Cooper Donathan, Aaron Philbrick, Caydon Vara, and Cayden Newbern.

Above: (Left to right) Elizabeth Aleman-Martinez (2nd Place – Personal Care), Harile Leach (4th Place – Home Health Aide), Hannah Angeles (2nd Place – Veterinary Science), Tucker Roberts (2nd Place – Extemporaneous Writing), Abigail Benson (Top 10% Health Care Issues Exam), and Cooper Donathan (Top 10% Health Care Issues Exam).

Above: Brownwood HOSA students after a long night of competing. Pictured are Alyssa Woods, Kiley Burns, Joshua Estrada, Hannah Angeles, Abigail Benson, Xana Hammonds, Cassi Hall, Sydney Roberts, Emma Sharpe, and Madi Mayo.