Contributed ADVANCING — Members of Health Occupations Students of America-Future Health Professionals at Jefferson County Joint Vocational School are heading to the HOSA International Leadership Conference in June at Houston after placing at the state event this month in Toledo. Among those moving on are, from left, Ashley Brown, Chloe Brooks, Daelynn Cordle, Madison Cost, Journey West and Brooke Scharfenberg.

BLOOMINGDALE — Members of the Jefferson County Joint Vocational School Chapter of Health Occupations Students of America-Future Health Professionals are heading to the HOSA International Leadership Conference this summer.

Seven health technologies students excelled at the state HOSA contest at the University of Toledo on April 9-11, earning them a chance to attend the ILC on June 26-29 in Houston. They will be among an estimated 10,000 participants from throughout the United States and Puerto Rico. JVS HOSA Adviser Tammy Sismondo said her students will attend competitions, workshops and even have some fun learning experiences while sightseeing.

“We have seven going to the nationals,” Sismondo said. “They will visit the NASA Space Center and attend a Houston Astros baseball game, plus there are college readiness workshops for seniors.”

During the state contest, senior Ashley Brown earned first place in phlebotomy; the team of juniors Brooke Scharfenberg and Journey West led the CPR/first aid category; senior Chloe Brooks took third place in physical therapy and patient care technician; the team of junior Daelynn Cordle and senior Madison Cost were third in CPR/first aid; and senior Lexas Lashhorn was fourth place for patient care technician and received a $1,000 HOSA Scholarship. Meanwhile, senior Vanessa Davis attended the University of Toledo’s interactive leadership training.

“I’m very proud of them. The state competition gets harder each year because more schools attend. There were more than 2,000 students this year. They are incorporating more STEM and high schools and the competition is very difficult,” Sismondo added. “The kids worked very hard and I hope we continue to work hard and get good results in June.”

She added that JVS students have attended the ILC every year and some students have made return appearances, plus some have ranked within the Top 10.

“We’ve had some place nationally in nurse assisting, personal care skills, CPR/first aid, home health care and clinical specialty,” she noted. “They have almost always gotten in the Top 10 and within the top three. The students have always had good experiences meeting other students, exploring career options and having leadership training.”